Unbreedable dog breed?
STJensen
biotechnology alter its DNA to do this? If so, how? If not, why not?
Scott
r norman
There might be molecular biologists who know special tricks, but my
impression is that it is not very likely. It is technically possible
but the reproductive isolating mechanisms generally known are not, in
my opinion, sufficiently simple or well enough known to be able to
engineer genetically. Using classical breeding techniques, it would
be very difficult. The most likely possibility would be to mess up
the chromosomes sufficiently and then clone enough individuals to
start up a new population or else do something to mess up the
sperm/egg compatibility and recognition system. The real question is
why would one spend even a tiny amount of time or money trying such a
thing?
Seed companies who want to maintain exclusive selling rights on a
patented variety make them sterile. If you did something similar I
don't believe you could legitimately call the result a "breed" since
it wouldn't be able to breed!
STJensen
> <RecreationalPo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Can a dog breed be made so it can only breed with its own breed? Can
> >biotechnology alter its DNA to do this? If so, how? If not, why not?
>
> There might be molecular biologists who know special tricks, but my
> impression is that it is not very likely. It is technically possible
> but the reproductive isolating mechanisms generally known are not, in
> my opinion, sufficiently simple or well enough known to be able to
> engineer genetically. Using classical breeding techniques, it would
> be very difficult. The most likely possibility would be to mess up
> the chromosomes sufficiently and then clone enough individuals to
> start up a new population or else do something to mess up the
> sperm/egg compatibility and recognition system. The real question is
> why would one spend even a tiny amount of time or money trying such
> a thing?
To keep the breed distinct. To prevent the creation of mutts.
> Seed companies who want to maintain exclusive selling rights on a
> patented variety make them sterile. If you did something similar I
> don't believe you could legitimately call the result a "breed" since
> it wouldn't be able to breed!
No, I was not thinking along the lines of making them sterile but
having other dog breeders help propagate this particular breed of dog.
Scott