I usually stay the hell out of this subject, but I've read so much ignorant postings here that I can't help, but respond.
From an bioethics point of view, one has difficulty condemning any kind of hybridization if one accepts hybridization at any level. Once you've taken the first step, how can you condemn taking the second and third. The example of habitat differences between pythons seems little different to me than the habitat differences between corns and california kings.
One of the allures of hybridization is its unpredictability. To assume that one is going to get the most attractive attributes of each parent is no more valid than assuming one will get the worst of each. One may expect hybrid vigor and one may get lethal genes or sterile offspring.
I totally oppose any restriction on hybridization as an infringement on scientific research. On the other hand, I find hybridization somewhat lazy, an attempt to achieve easily what takes years of selective breeding and that, my friends, is the art of this thing. Finally,until we institute some decent record keeping, hybridization and selective breeding will be futile. If you can't recall how you got there, the journey is kind of a waste.
From an bioethics point of view, one has difficulty condemning any kind of hybridization if one accepts hybridization at any level. Once you've taken the first step, how can you condemn taking the second and third. The example of habitat differences between pythons seems little different to me than the habitat differences between corns and california kings.
One of the allures of hybridization is its unpredictability. To assume that one is going to get the most attractive attributes of each parent is no more valid than assuming one will get the worst of each. One may expect hybrid vigor and one may get lethal genes or sterile offspring.
I totally oppose any restriction on hybridization as an infringement on scientific research. On the other hand, I find hybridization somewhat lazy, an attempt to achieve easily what takes years of selective breeding and that, my friends, is the art of this thing. Finally,until we institute some decent record keeping, hybridization and selective breeding will be futile. If you can't recall how you got there, the journey is kind of a waste.
