Basic Genetics

[paulh]

I've had a University course in genetics and several years working in a genetics lab helping pro geneticists with their projects. So I am more qualified than many on this forum.

Shouldn't a blind person be warned when he is walking towards a patch of quicksand?

[Annarose15]

I've had a University course in genetics and several years working in a genetics lab helping pro geneticists with their projects. So I am more qualified than many on this forum.

Shouldn't a blind person be warned when he is walking towards a patch of quicksand?

So, one college class and "several" years being a lab tech? Although I respect everyone's right to respectively express their opinions, where is the work you have done or published in herpetology, or ball pythons, specifically? And isn't quicksand a bit of an extreme analogy for a basic understanding of what you get when you breed snake "w" to snake "z"? My undergraduate degree was in exotic preveterinary medicine, I spent six years working in clinics, and I have owned snakes for 26 years. Where do I stand on your scale? Show a little respect for the time and effort Judy has spent learning and compiling the information that she shares with us regularly.

[OhhWatALoser]

I've had a University course in genetics and several years working in a genetics lab helping pro geneticists with their projects. So I am more qualified than many on this forum.

Shouldn't a blind person be warned when he is walking towards a patch of quicksand?

When is anyone in this hobby going to be walking into your metaphorical quicksand? The concept of inheritance is there

I can try for a metaphor, when someone asks how to put gas in their car, do you tell them how the internal combustion engine works? Most people are happy knowing just how to put gas in their car and use terms like regular gas and premium gas.

also I believe the term codominant is misused in the link you posted.

[paulh]

Quicksand is a bit over the top. Mud hole would be a better comparison.

I have published no papers on ball pythons. A couple of years ago I was coauthor on a paper on the genetics of zebra finches. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...act_id=1746843

If someone asks how a car's internal combustion engine works, do you tell them that water goes in the front of the car and gas in the back and both go in the engine? While true, it gives the impression that water and gas mix in the engine, which is false.

"Codominant" in the link gets over the concept that two genes, A and a, produce three gene pairs, AA, Aa, and aa. Genotype AA produces phenotype 1, genotype Aa produces phenotype 2, and genotype aa produces phenotype 3. What else does a breeder need to know about codominance?

[OhhWatALoser]

Quicksand is a bit over the top. Mud hole would be a better comparison.

I have published no papers on ball pythons. A couple of years ago I was coauthor on a paper on the genetics of zebra finches. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...act_id=1746843

If someone asks how a car's internal combustion engine works, do you tell them that water goes in the front of the car and gas in the back and both go in the engine? While true, it gives the impression that water and gas mix in the engine, which is false.

"Codominant" in the link gets over the concept that two genes, A and a, produce three gene pairs, AA, Aa, and aa. Genotype AA produces phenotype 1, genotype Aa produces phenotype 2, and genotype aa produces phenotype 3. What else does a breeder need to know about codominance?

People aren't asking how it works, they just want to know how to pump gas. If they want to know beyond that, they aren't going to be reading material that starts off like this.

This explanation is not meant to be taken as a scientific study or anything like that. It is written from a layman's point of view in order to offer a basic understanding of how genetics work in Ball Python breeding and the various genetic terms as they are commonly used in the BP community. Hopefully the visuals created for this lesson will provide a solid foundation for future learning.

What is described in the link is what is generally accepted as incomplete dominance.

[satomi325]

I've taken quite a few university genetics courses and have done some lab work as well. I personally find Judy's guide fine.
It's not suppose to be a text book. It's suppose to be guide. A cliffnotes of sorts.
While it doesn't go into depth, it does introduce the basic concepts of what is going on in Ball Python morphs and breeding. And for people who have never taken a formal genetics class, that's really all they need.

If you're not satisfied with any of the guides provided, then I encourage you to write one yourself. If it's good enough, perhaps it could be stickied.

What is described in the link is what is generally accepted as incomplete dominance.

^^ This is true.

[BFE Pets]

I looked at that site and abandoned it at the end of the third paragraph in the Genetics 101 file. There were so many mistakes that it wasn't worth going on further. The guy obviously put a lot of work in it, but I don't think he spent much time reading a genetics text. Too bad.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. So here's mine. If all you can do is bash other peoples work and have none of your own then shut up about it. Until you publish something involving the current topic then you don't have a leg to stand on imo. Just because you think you have a better understanding of genetics doesn't make you the authority. This thread was started with a simple question. Some of us tried to steer them in a direction to learn more and all you have done is tear down other peoples work. Do something productive lead them in the right direction with out being a butt about it. I like the vms page on genetics. I also liked the one on here. They make it simple to follow and give enough that the layperson can keep up with. It don't take a genius to understand a punnet square or how to get a super pastel or how a simple recessive gene works. That's pretty much all the average ball python keeper really what's to know. If you want an in-depth genetics discussion then you might want to find a forum that specializes in just that and not a forum dedicated to the love and enjoyment of keeping reptiles.

[S.I.R.]

I like to check out the genetic wizard on World of Ball Pythons. It is very helpful. I also use John Barry's book a lot as well. Hope this helps.

[paulh]

What is described in the link is what is generally accepted as incomplete dominance.

The breeding results for codominance and incomplete dominance are the same. Explaining the difference would violate the keep it simple philosophy advocated in this thread.

For what its worth, I have contributed to the Lesson in Basic Genetics sticky. As they are closer to the end than the front, I don't think many people have looked at them.

[paulh]

This thread was started with a simple question. Some of us tried to steer them in a direction to learn more and all you have done is tear down other peoples work. Do something productive lead them in the right direction with out being a butt about it.

http://www.redtailboas.com/f115/no-f...s-guide-53782/

I like a lot of things about the World of Ball Pythons, too.