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Re: [RC] SCID: Breeding Decisions - heidiIt is the height of foolishness (from both a practical and a genetic standpoint) to remove otherwise high quality individuals from the gene pool for a trait that, because of the ability to test for it, need never be expressed. This is a really important concept that too many people miss. The developing of a test for a gene should be a means of controlling expression of the gene--NOT of declaring war on that gene! The test is a means of ensuring that no affected foals need ever be produced, WITHOUT going on a witchhunt for all the carriers! The test for SCID carrier status has made the genetics of the disease irrelevant, since it is now possible to never produce an affected foal, one can breed carriers to non-carriers with 100% assurity of not producing any foals with this genetic defect. Because of the test, it is no longer necessary to remove carriers from the gene pool, and anybody who says otherwise doesn't know anything about the genetics of heritance or statistics. Yep. And wise breeders would do well to inform the entire industry that not only is not necessary, but not desirable to remove all carriers from the breeding population, since people will be more likely to seek and provide honest and accurate information (so people can make better breeding decisions) if they know that their breeding stock won't be automatically disqualified if carrier status is divulged. Wise breeders are trying hard to do so--and education IS beginning to make a difference, IMO. More and more, I see intelligent discussions of the problem such as this very thread rather than folks on witch hunts. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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