Recessive Genetics - Het Percentages

So Adam, who is buying most of those possible hets, newbies or big breeders or somewhere in-between?

ddbjdealer, if I didn't give them credit maybe I would stick to KISS like Adam but I think with the right explanation most everyone should be able to understand advanced subjects like alleles even though plenty get the basics like co-dom hets and recessive possible hets wrong at first. I'll keep practicing with longer, more detailed, and more frequent explanations to get it right since you and Adam appreciate them so much ;). I’m sure those who don’t care to know can continue to pass over them and if there are a few who want to take the time they can maybe learn something new.

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Originally Posted by RandyRemington

So Adam, who is buying most of those possible hets, newbies or big breeders or somewhere in-between?

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All of the above.

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Originally Posted by RandyRemington

most everyone should be able to understand advanced subjects like alleles

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And for what it's worth, even though I'm sure people understand what they are, I talk ball python morphs and genetics on the phone for what seems like all day every day to friends and customers and the only time I ever see the word "alleles" brought up is in your posts Randy. :P

-adam

I'm not sure if it's a question of whether people should or shouldn't be able to understand the actual genetics behind it. The important thing is that they understand what "50% het albino" means and what they're getting -- ie, that there's a 50% chance that the snake they're buying will, if mated with an albino (for example), produce offspring with a 50% chance of being albino.

In principle, it would be best for interested persons to understand how the genetics actually works, particularly if they're planning on breeding. However, I don't think that the addition of "possible" will make any significant difference. If you're buying a snake and you're serious about it, you should do some background reading. If you didn't encounter "50% het" in your research, it's easy to ask the seller for clarification.

Having said that, I do agree that "50% possible heterozygous" is more clear than "50% het"; it's also cumbersome, however. In any given field's terminology, clarity is often sacrificed in exchange for convenience and it's expected that those who are new to the field (either as hobbyists or professionals) put in some effort to learn the terminology; of course, it's also incumbent on those already in the field to be helpful in explaining confusing terms to newcomers. (In my brief experience here, I've found the people on this forum do the latter quite well, which is appreciated.)

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Originally Posted by kavmon

i bought a clutch of poss. albino bp's 2 yrs ago. i will be proving 3 girls out this winter. i can't wait to see if i hit the lottery! lol i also have a poss. pied girl going this winter, and a poss. hypo girl i'm raising up. POSS/50% whatever ROCKS!

vaughn

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This is going to be an amazing year for you Vaughn. Crossing all my crossable bits that you hit the numbers and prove em all out! How exciting! Mike and I have been talking and we really need to pick up some females to prove out (as well as the ones that hopefully Malachi will father this year). Sounds like a lot of fun and hey still better odds than your average lottery! ;)

thanks jo, this year has been a blast so far. hatching pastels has been an awesome expierence. next year albinos,pastels, maybe pieds and who knows what else?

you definately have to put the time in and raise some girls up to breed. i'm raising a few female morphs now for combos in the future.


vaughn