This message is from: "ruth bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Carol made some interesting observations concerning the contributions mares > make in the stallion mare mix. I have often heard that the mare contributes > perhaps 60%. An old horseman once told me that behind every good horse is a > good mare (mother........ Philip ==========================
The observation that Mares contribute more than the sire is based on the additional discovery of Mitochondria, which when carefully analyzed is of really no great importance. I wrote to a Genetical Engineer last fall and asked him about the 50/50 ratio, if it is correct, and this is what he said.... "I agree with you, Ruth - offspring are a 50/50 mix of both parents. However, the mother is (usually) the only parent to pass mitochondria to the offspring. Mitochondria are a tiny fraction of the complete genome (about 1 part in hundreds of thousands). I suspect that is where folks get the idea that the mom provides more genetics info (but it is very minor)." Ruthie, nw mt
