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INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS
Genetics is the biology of heredity, particularly
individual variation and the mechanism of transmission
of heredity traits. Over 300 million years ago
the first primitive four-legged vertebrates evolved
from aquatic ancestors. The thousands of reptiles
and amphibians that exist today evolved from these
precursors. Their colors, patterns, scales, and
other morphological features, the characteristics
that make them what they are, are determined by
their genes. Genes not only determine the characteristics
of reptiles and amphibians, but genes have determined
their evolution.
Many of the aberrant reptiles and amphibians
that are bred in captivity today are proven gene
mutations. In most cases, this was found out by
F1 crosses, or back-crossing an F1 with a parent.
F1 refers to the first filial generation. If two
animals with a known genotype are bred, the Punnett
Square, named for British geneticist, G. C. Punnett,
is a practical method of determining the most
probable proportions of offspring of different
genotypes and phenotypes.
This Genetics section is here to help you understand
what all this means. We have provided you with
a section that recommends books and articles worth
reading if you wish to understand this in greater
detail. We have an online glossary available for
you and we have even configured numerous Punnett
Squares for you to see what probable proportions
you should get by breeding two specific animals
together. We hope this helps clear some of the
confusion...
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