Quote Originally Posted by asplundii View Post
We can certainly know. Genetics is genetics is genetics. There is nothing about the genetics of ball pythons (or any other herp) that is any different than the genetics of any other organism on the planet. We know of a great many mechanisms in other species that generate "paradox"-type phenotypes. It is an absolute certainty that some (perhaps even all) of these mechanisms are at play in our animals.
Well, since we know a great many mechanisms that generate "paradox" type phenotype, it would seem you are in agreement with my original post that chimera and paradox should not be used interchangeably. That being the case apparently, then you can not say that you know if a given animal is a chimera.