Cockatiels are noisy birds. We are close to the same age. I like birds but I have six cats. They love birds too, but only to play with and eat.

yes. it's genetics. start reading here:

http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm

Fruit Fly Mutations (from NPR)



http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468532

From what I gather it is pretty rare, but given the amount of reproduction that goes on . . .

That's not strictly true. Something environmental could have caused an anomaly which would not be passed down genetically cf Thalidomide on humans.

Excellent point. It depends a lot on where the mutation occurs and when.

If the mutation is in the gametes or other sexual genetic information storage areas then yes it can be handed down if it does not prevent reproduction.

If it is a mutation after conception however or during development then not so much.

Can you tell Im not a biologist? LOL, but yes good points.

Basically any change in the base pairs is a mutation - regardless of whether it causes visible changes, or can even be translated into a protein in a meaningful way.

Mutations that cause a change in skin color are still mutations.

I'm pretty sure that frog image is fake, but I would guess that such would require far more than a single mutation. In sexual reproduction, each of those individual mutations may or may not be passed on to the offspring.

Edit: I just read the latest posts. I meant to clarify that with sexual reproduction there is no guarantee that any particular part of one parent's genome will be passed on.. you guys are making good points above the mutation not necessarily being present in the cells that produce the gametes - making it nigh impossible for the mutation to be passed on.

That's an interesting question. I would say it's a possibility.

Here's another though. Since "exactly" 50% of your genes are from the female parent and the other 50% from the male, if a female with 2 eyes mated with a male who had 6, how many eyes do you think the offspring would be most likely to have?

Mathematically you might be tempted to say 4 but that's most unlikely because genes and math are seemingly from two different worlds.

according to darwinian theory, mutations happen slowly over thousands of years.
in the case of your frog, first a mutation for 3 eyes would have to become common place enough to no longer be considered a mutation, but instead the norm. then four eyes, then five, until finally your 6 eyed frog would become the common frog.

as far as breeding is concerned, it could probably breed, but the rare chances of it finding another 6 eyed frog at this stage of the frog's evolution are miniscule.
i believe that more than likely the correct genes from it's mates eggs would be the dominant ones and the anomaly would not continue. it's too drastic of a change for it to easily repeat itself.

i'm not a biologist, therefore this is all logical(as far as i'm concerned) speculation.


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