Line breeding vs hybridization
- Subject: Line breeding vs hybridization
- From: I* &* C* G*
- Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 22:25:40 -0500 (CDT)
My impression is that Symphysodon discus was "improved" by line breeding, not
hybridization. Line breeding is where one selects from a large population those
parents which bring the breeder towards the characteristics s/he finds most
desirable, continuing the selection for many generations. It is this pursuit of
"perfection" which has give rise to the domesticated dog, no longer quite the
wolf. This is commonly done with many kinds of plants, FCCs are given to
outstanding ( by someone's definition) examples of a species. Of course, a pack
of dogs is nothing compared to a pack of wolves. Similarly our "improved" line
bred species are no longer as able to survive in the wild.
Iza Goroff
Whitewater Wisconsin USA
Ron Iles wrote:
> ...But one example dear to me is Symphysodon, "Discus", arguably the "King" of
> Aquarium Fishes. Over less than three decades, the arbitrary & mostly
> undocumented complex hybridisation of these supremely specialised creatures
> has produced the most extreme degradation of Nature's nobility & adapted
> biodiversity. All for Man's sensationalism.
