Interesting read

[Serpent_Nirvana]

Or is it possible that Super Fires that have pigmentation just have a defect in that genome that allows some skin cells to support pigment?

Hmm, you mean when the gene reverts back to functional protein production in a given area? Interesting ...

I do also like the idea of super fires being a form of piebaldism ... I've seen a few that really look it, too.

What I find so fascinating is that these animals (snakes) seem to have so few other congenital defects associated with these pigment defects ... It seems like in other animals, there are often a number of other defects associated with piebaldism, albinism and leucism that don't seem to be present in these snakes.

[ed4281]

Interesting article, now and for evermore I will call them luky's LOL.

I have worked with veterinarians for 12 years or so by now and they are often times that arrogant and condescending to their staff and it seems like the more education they have the worse they are.

When they pull that crap with me I just throw my education in their face and it shuts them up. It really gets them when I put all my degrees behind my name when I sign off on a chart. I have more letters behind my name than most of them.

[Matt K]

But are they true leucistics or do they just look like true leucistics? Thx for clearing that up tho.

I think some amount of not-yet-done research would have to go into proving whether or not they're true leucistics. It's my suspicion that they are, but the question of Super Fires is an interesting one. In that case, some skin cells do seem to be able to support at least certain kinds of pigmentation. But if that were to be true for Lessers or Butters, I feel like we would have seen it by now--thus I think it's safe to call them true leucistics.

PS, I didn't get to finish my incubator before I left, but I'll be bugging you for some help in January if that's okay !

Cheers,
-Matt

[OhhWatALoser]

I think some amount of not-yet-done research would have to go into proving whether or not they're true leucistics. It's my suspicion that they are, but the question of Super Fires is an interesting one. In that case, some skin cells do seem to be able to support at least certain kinds of pigmentation. But if that were to be true for Lessers or Butters, I feel like we would have seen it by now--thus I think it's safe to call them true leucistics.

PS, I didn't get to finish my incubator before I left, but I'll be bugging you for some help in January if that's okay !

Cheers,
-Matt

I guess it one of those things we will never know for sure, I mean how can you really prove it one way or another I guess. I'm sticking with super lessers and butters being the only true BEL

and feel free to bug me all you want lol.

[Matt K]

Thanks! Like the article stated, you'd have to see, by planting pigment cells into the white areas of skin, if the skin literally causes to pigment cells to die, or if was merely a matter of the skin not being able to receive or maintain pigment cells of it's own. If it's the first, than they're true leucistics. But yeah, I can't see anyone dedicating the time and money to that research when it's really inconsequential, lol.

Cheers,
-Matt

[darkbloodwyvern]

That wouldn't be so bad if the entire paper wasn't written in a tone of massive condescension.

+2 this. It's not that I disagree at all, but Leukemia (sp?) is spelled with a K, so people pronounce it correctly. It's just not terribly PROFESSIONAL sounding to insult your readers or look down your nose at people in an article. It may be a casual email or something, but still. It kind of turns me off if someone is trying to sound professional and has to resort to vulgar name calling. Ha ha... I dunno. I guess it is akin to people who "typ liek this OR IN ALL CAPS" I have a hard time overlooking it, even when i know someone is very intelligent. You can act/write/speak perfectly intelligently without sounding like a jerk and it's much harder to voice an opinion without being condescending. Thus I appreciate the effort so much more!

ALSO my boyfriend learned Greek in college, the language is written in a totally different alphabet, so it doesn't always perfectly convert to English or any other language using 'our' alphabet. So there' obviously going to be problem translating words. He should take this into account in his argument...