Cross breeding of animals (of any kind)

[danielp]

I'm against it. I wish humans could someday find a way to appreciate nature in its original form, and stop trying to manipulate everything into something they think will fare better, or even look better. Nature's been around much longer, and tends to know much more about this stuff than we do.

Perfectly stated.

[wesleydnunder]

I'm against it. I wish humans could someday find a way to appreciate nature in its original form, and stop trying to manipulate everything into something they think will fare better, or even look better. Nature's been around much longer, and tends to know much more about this stuff than we do.

I agree 100%. Leave the hybridization to nature, if it happens. The fish we buy are often questionable enough as to exact species. Hybrids get sold or given away and wind up being sold at the lfs, touted as a new species.

Mark

[Totenkampf]

I'm against it. I wish humans could someday find a way to appreciate nature in its original form, and stop trying to manipulate everything into something they think will fare better, or even look better. Nature's been around much longer, and tends to know much more about this stuff than we do.

well said. i am probably in the minority, but I have to say that I dont really even 'get' the facination with breeding albino or hypomelanistic animals. the moss pattern on a natural colored ancistrus or the a 'regular' old kingsnake look superior to me. i even saw someone trying to breed for red phase gaboon vipers, why would you erase what is one of the most unique patterns in nature?

[ometh]

i even saw someone trying to breed for red phase gaboon vipers, why would you erase what is one of the most unique patterns in nature?

+1 and those are some beautiful snakes too.

[mnemenoi]

I certainly find the practice distasteful and I believe we as humans should have learned some hard and fast lessons far earlier, but we often forget the past and can only see what lies ahead. I have become indifferent to them in stores, having no emotion either way. I realize that demand is indeed high or otherwise they would not stock them. I also realize that they dictate what that market is. I can only hope that they do what they feel is right and we can only hope for the best.

I do see that genetic advances have come farther along and thus far have only been used to produce some frankensteins, but to be fair those self same advances furthers our understanding and knowledge. Soon we will approach a point that could swing the pendulum a bit more equally. If we were to understand and be able to reproduce creatures we ourselves have caused to fall to exctinction, should we reproduce them and is it responsible? Many species are dying every year and this research could be the only chance of saving them from total obliteration. I am not speaking of Jurassic park, but of Thylacines and Great Auks. Creatures that were alive less then 100 years ago, that humans brought to that brink. Could it be used for our benefit? Is it our duty to recreate them if we can? I am certain these are hard questions I am glad not to face or ultimately answer.