Bruce :

I understand "basic" genetics from studies in college and subsequent reading . Also understood your posts above. However this thread has me uncertain of an answer given me by a fisheries biologist {head of the state hatchery} when I asked him a related question.

I was concerned that one pond with poor results {over populated bass among other problems} might need additional LMB genes as the original LMB and offspring had been in the 6 acre pond for 30+ years with no additions. I thought your cousin example was the answer. He said , and I never understood why , that fish genetics did not work that way. I did not ask him why and it is possible that he misundrestood the question. I went ahead anyway and added some new LMB { floridas to a pond with only northerns}.

He may have known that the fish which came from the state hatchery had enough different parents for it not to be a problem but I did not give him that info. He might have known or thought that a 6 acre pond population is to big to be isolated for fish purposes or that 30 years is to short a period for problems to arise. He did see the population as we did an electroshock survey. I have seen no deformed or inferior looking fish however that might not be visable.

So I now wonder how many parents are to few , how small a population is to small and how long before new genes are needed in an isolated population? Will the inferior genes {fish} die off from competition ? Or is this even a potential problem for most small ponds ? Inquiring minds want to know . About your pic.-- does that mean Charles is crappy or can he be excused as the result of two small "a" parents . Any thoughts or help would be great. ewest