Definitions:
Hybrid: offspring of when two different species mate
animal kingdom: group comprising of all animals
Summary:
Hybrids are often thought to be rarities in nature and viewed as very special. But contrary to popular belief, research has shown that at one time or another, at least 10% of animals and 25% of plants will mate with another species. They may not always generate offspring, but that is still a high number. Now, most people are under the impression that the offspring contains qualities of both parents, but the studies conducted by Loren H. Rieseberg of the University of British Columbia show that hybrids may contain completely different attributes than those of their parents. Rieseberg found that when the common sunflower and praire sunflower reproduce, the offspring can only live in "extreme habitats", unlike their producers. The hybrid sunflowers tend to have traits that have no connection to their parents. This pattern also occurred in the Lonicera fly. Its parents, two variations of the maggot fly, preferred a certain type of honeysuckle opposed to the ones its parents were attracted to. In both cases, we see that hybrids contain different traits from those of their parents. This is an interesting find and led scientist to discover more.
Discussion:
Now, I myself was appalled at the findings. I used to think that species, hybrid or not, contained the same genes as their parents. For example , I thought the zorse had a combination of the traits of a horse and a zebra. This article dissproved previous thinkings. Now we know that, yes, the hybrid offspring often are dissimlar to their parents. From this information, many more studies can come out of this
Questions:
Do hybrids often share the same qualities as their parents or different?
Why do hybrids have different qualities?
Link to picture: http://www.geekologie.com/2007/06/28/zorse.jpg
Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/science/14creatures.html?_r=1
Citations: Carrol, Sean B. "Hybrids May Thrive Where Parents Fear to Tread." Ny Times.
N.p., 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 25 Sept. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/
14/science/14creatures.html?_r=1>.
