Line breeding vs hybridization

From: Iza & Carol Goroff goroff at idcnet.com> on 2001.06.21 at 03:25:40(6778) 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 +More 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.

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