deformities passed in genes?

[unkle_billy]

You mean fish like goldfish?

 

[Toby_H]

I feel everyone should have a chance in life.

While this sort fo thinking sure does make us feel good...
It is directly opposes nature, survival of the fittest and natural selection...


Within a civilized society I fully support equal rights for life of the civilized species...

But if breeders fall prey to such sappy belief systems the health of the future speceis produced from that line will be compromised... In other words, sacrificing a few to save the masses is often the more compassionate approach...


By the way, not all genetic mutations / dissorders / deformities / etc / etc
follow laws of simple dominance or simple recession... Mendelian Genetics is surely very very common, but subtle qualities often follow exceptionally complex patterns...

 

[unkle_billy]

Would you encourage people to keep species displaying recessive genes? I'm pretty sure that an albino oscar would have a much more difficult time evading predators in the wild resulting in a very low survival rate. ie a weaker fish.

 

[Red Devil]

Would you encourage people to keep species displaying recessive genes? I'm pretty sure that an albino oscar would have a much more difficult time evading predators in the wild resulting in a very low survival rate. ie a weaker fish.

i think keeping it once it is here is fine... but breeding it or breeding for this result is not..although it is done all the time in the business to attract people to a new species type .. it is a long long process to breed some thing out of the norm.. and with all the mistakes alot of culling is needed.. this is all man made... something that most likely would never occur in nature. Not saying that some fish do not improve their looks with this practice ..colors are more intense...fins are longer... eyes more pronounce... but from what i have seen they do tend to be weaker and not usually a good practice for the fish's longevity...and some are even sterile...

 

[Toby_H]

Would you encourage people to keep species displaying recessive genes? I'm pretty sure that an albino oscar would have a much more difficult time evading predators in the wild resulting in a very low survival rate. ie a weaker fish.

Essentially your question is "Do you support line breeding for specific traits?"

First off I must acknowledge that this type of line breeding is altering the animal from it's native appearance... I'm not saying this is bad, but I think it is worthy of acknowledging this fact up front...

I personally have no problem line breeding for specific traits... Yet I feel there are many ways one can irresponsibily do so...

I think that line bred fish shuold be kept seperate from non line bred stock, primarily when the non line bred stock is close to wild caught and minimally polluted with human interjection...

I believe very firmly that breeders need to be cautious and avoid excessive inbreeding in line bred fish. I believe this is the biggest mistake made in line breeding. Outcrossing (introducing unrelated genetics) takes a step backwards in targeting the desired trait but is necessary for the future of the line. All to often breeders goal is to make money and not to create a line with strong future potential.


As you mentioned Albino fish would indeed have a low survival rate in the wild but are often desirable in the aquarium trade. I personally see no harm in developing such strains although I feel responsible steps MUST be taken keep these strains healthy... as well as to protect "normal" strains from any problems the mutated fish may have...

 

[VLDesign]

I feel everyone should have a chance in life.

Such an ignorant thing to say...

Try telling that to children born with Tay-Sachs disease or other genetic issues that cause severe pain for their entire life, and see if they would agree with you.

 

[unkle_billy]

I think that several of them would agree with me to be allowed to make their own decision as whether or not to live. A chance presents the opportunity for self destruction.