h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was just reading an article on AOL about two cats, one of which is a clone. The original has a coat with color patches, the other has stripes. The original is reserved, the clone is playful. One was sleek, and the other was pudgy. I was really surprised by this! Didn't realize that an exact clone would have so many differences. Even physical differences like coat color. The article warned that people wanting to clone their pets should not expect the same animal. It also pointed out that there are so many animals needing adoption, that it seems a shame to resort to cloning. I know I have seen several threads lately on clones, and I will have to seek them out tomorrow.

I posted some on the human clone thread about this. Cats have more dna to change I guess NOT to mention there is NOT a need!The pet lovers are NOT getting their pets back !

JE I would have assumed a clone`d be identical to its` doner-cells Neu-

It must have mutated... Otherwise surely the coat colour would not have been affected

I take it that this implies that colour patterning is not dictated by the genes - suggesting that birth marks aren't genetic either, although a tendency towards having them might be. I would guess that this cat's genitic code says "you will be tabby and white", but doesn't say where the tabby and where the white should be.

I guess silver backed Gorillas change their colour depending on whether or not they are alpha male. Which kinda shows that our bodies know what's going on in our heads.
That pretty much decides the nature/nurture argument too.

I like that about the silver backs! Interesting !

It is explained on the clone thread. I believe they have more genes that point to more color possiblities/variables than other creatures. Variety is in their genetic markers.

Interesting

Knowing people-especially rich one`s-there`s a clone or 3 around-how they work out (with the doner) is what`s in doubt.Nature vs Nuture? I say hands down,Nuture gets the evolutionary crown!(& that can`t be bought-at any cost-what`s real is real,it`s how you feel,not how you act-any child can see through that)Neugen

Nature has a small impact on your testosterone levels and everything but yeah. I guess it's nurture. We owe more to our mums than we realise!