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So what happens when a lethal is present?
Most lethals are known to cause death in the early embryonic (or pre-embryonic) stage, resulting in a lack of production because fewer babies are born. The embryos are reabsorbed by the mother. Scientific evidence in both mice and rats supports this theory. No studies have been done on chinchillas (none that the author has been able to find and verify), but this is what breeders assume happens in the case with both the white and velvet chinchillas.
Is it dangerous to breed lethals?
In the author’s opinion, the information about the dangers of breeding lethals as found in chinchilla species is inconclusive (whereas the breeding of lethals in other species is better documented and no argument can be made for the breeding of). Some speculate that the process of reabsorbing dead embryos may increase the risk of infection to the mother depending upon the stage of development during which the embryo actually dies. Others feel it poses no threat. It is also suggested that breeding white x white leads to more complications than velvet x velvet (even suggesting that velvet x velvet is acceptable). It is difficult to know if reports of post-birth complications are actually associated with the lethal or other genetic factors.
Keep in mind that not all organisms affected by a lethal will die in the womb. An example of this is the Overo Lethal White syndrome in horses. A foal that is homozygous for the OLW gene will die within a few days after birth because its intestinal system has not properly formed and it cannot function properly when it eats. Some lethals may allow for viable organisms part of the time. These are referred to as semi-lethal. The merle gene, commonly found in species like dogs and rats, causes a splotchy, spotted coat in the heterozygous state and a predominantly white coat in the homozygous state. The double-merle or homo-merle may also be affected by health problems associated with organ development (eyes, ears, digestive, etc.).
As such, or until more research is done, the breeding of lethals should not be attempted by pet breeders. If you still wish to breed lethals, the first thing you have to ask yourself is why you need to breed them in the first place (since the author cannot think of a very good reason why a pet breeder would need to do so). Some people feel that breeding lethals will result in more mutant offspring, but this is a misconception on their part. |
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