Normal X Pastel

[hoo-t]

OK, since I kinda started all this...

...Yes, I understand that a Pastel is a Het form.

But it is a Het form visually. ...

Also genetically.

...To refer to it as HET Pastel is to imply to the general public that it is normal. Generally speaking, that is the reasoning behind the LACK of using this term, for obvious reasons. ...

I disagree with this. It implies that it is normal to the segment of the general public that doesn't understand genetics, and assumes that the term het only applies to recessive traits, which is not true. Once it is explained that het does NOT mean normal looking, then we can make progress. I think Randy said it best. Heterozygous means an unmatched pair of genes on a particular locus. It has absolutely nothing to do with visual/non-visual. And they exist in recessive, co-dominant, and dominant traits. I also agree with Randy in that if/when spider and pinstripe are proven dominant, understanding that a het spider is still a spider, but not homozygous will be especially important.

The problem I see is that many, many people come on this forum and ask "What do I get if I breed a pastel to a normal?" They don't have a firm understanding of genetics. (Not a dis against you Andrew!!!) When you tell them that there is no such thing as a het pastel, it merely adds to the confusion. Help them to understand that from a genetics perspective, it works the same way with recessive, co-dominant, and dominant. Tell them they must learn which traits are recessive, co-dom, and dom. Then it becomes easy to understand that breeding a pastel to a normal yields 50% normals and 50% pastels. It becomes easy to understand what a 66% probable het is, and why there are no 66% het pastels. And it becomes easy to understand that the normal looking snake that Will Scamu is selling is NOT a het pastel! They can look Will in the eye and say "No, pastel is co-dominant. If it was a het, it would BE a pastel!" To me, avoiding the issue to protect them only serves to make it worse. They still don't understand, and THAT leaves them open for Will.

...Why not just call it a Pastel. Really.........

I have no problem calling it a pastel. Its only when someone says its not a het, that I jump in and get myself in trouble.

Steve