"Tim Tyler"  wrote in message
news:cfql3i$126e$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> Perplexed in Peoria  wrote or quoted:
> > "Guy Hoelzer"  wrote in message
news:cfg2sd$n9h$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> > > dkomo at dkomo871{at}comcast.net wrote on 8/11/04 8:53 AM:
>
> > > > In other words, isn't it the DNA that has by far the strongest
> > > > influence on the final phenotype?
> > >
> > > No.  You don't seem to get the point that development is a
consequence of
> > > the interplay between genome and the embryo's (fetus's...) external
> > > environment.  The information guiding that development exists in both
> > > places.  Fraternal twins have different genomes and share
most factors in
> > > their external environments during gestation (and to a
lesser degree beyond
> > > that).  Consequently, the interaction between genome and
environment is
> > > different for fraternal twins.  If you take embryonic clones
and rear them
> > > in different environments they develop differently.  Under
your logic that
> > > would seem to demonstrate that phenotypic differences are
caused strictly by
> > > the environment, but of course that is not the case.
> >
> > Dr. Hoelzer,
> > You may wish to Google for /bovine frozen embryos/ both for your own
> > knowlege and to correct the misinformation you have fed poor Hendricks474.
> > I mention this in this context because I doubt that the huge international
> > commerce in embryos is motivated by a desire to get the poor little things
> > to the optimal prenatal environment.  Instead it takes place because
> > agricultural interests with a lot of money invested have come to believe
> > that genetics is important, particularly over multiple generations, whereas
> > any almost womb will do the job.
>
> You might like to try the experiment of implanting a fertilised
> bovine egg in a mouse womb - and see how your strange theory
> about any womb being equally good turns out in practice.

Point taken.  Though to take an example a little less extreme, see:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/04/08/science.banteng.reut/

One other anecdote which is not really to the point, but is still
somewhat fascinating.  Back in the early days of bovine embryo commerce,
before the technology for freezing and thawing embryos was perfected,
bovine embryos were shipped by air in a live rabbit uterus.  Of course,
after arrival they were re-transplanted to a bovine uterus.  Apparently
the rabbit uterus kept the embryo nourished and growing for several days.
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info{at}bbsworld.com

---
 * RIMEGate(tm)V10.2áÿ* RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
 * RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 8/17/04 1:14:44 PM