Google... powers... fading

[xenokattz]

I need a geneticist. Specifically one that specialises in hybrids, hopefully interfamilial although intergeneric ones will do. I swear, all I find about it are how cool and nifty hybrids are but, woe, they is infertile. Or gigantic. Also, animal hybrids tend to "speak" in both their parents' "languages

Comments

[xianghua]

Um.... I know a lot about mules and horses, if that's any help at all. :) The death rates for them are pretty low- not significantly higher than horse preganancies..) Um.... That's probably not helpful.

[xenokattz]

Oh, every little bit helps. Do you know much about health problems that hybrids could have?

[xianghua]

In mules? Very few- fewer than horses and donkeys, in fact. They tend to be VERY easy keepers, stronger pound-for-pound than horses, incredibly tough (with excellent feet as a rule). Slightly more prone to colic as a result of what easy keepers they are. Main drawback is they tend to be really different temperamentally from both horses and donkeys and hence need a different type of handling and training.

[xenokattz]

Hmmm... that actually helps quite a bit, thanks.

Is the colic you refer to the same gassy problem as babies?

[adn_heming]

Did I mention that the Phoenix Legacy is eating my brain?
*gleeful*
:D
Hybrids are *usually* infertile: but not < a href=http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:mGdLAkHW6vcJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid+cases+of+hybrid+fertility+animals&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5>always. There have been cases of hybrids, like mules, and ligers and tigons being able to produce offspring.

As for health problems...I know this isn't what you're looking for, but in Comicon, Bryan Singer mentioned that he meant for Clark to be a frail, awkward kid: that until his powers fully kicked in, the interaction of Kryptonian physiology with Earth environment resulted in some frailties, like his bad eyesight. Clark might have had other physical problems growing up as well, though not as severe as Jason's.

I'm not sure how scientifically sound that explanation is, but hey...

[xenokattz]

Yeah, I thought you'd like that *LOL*

I've trawled every little link on that Wikipage including the plants. It helped with a few things but I don't think a 12-year-old Jason quite needs to worry about fertility yet. ;)

Brian Singer's comments were exactly what I was looking for. My limited knowledge of genetics also told me that SOMETHING has to go on with Jason's cellular innards because of the differences in Kryptonian DNA and Human DNA. I think I've read somewhere what Superman has a few organs that humans don't and his cellular matrix is vastly different from humans.

Basically, I have a theory and I need a scientist to tell me whether I'm on a relatively right path or if it's just classic comicbook science. :D

[adn_heming]

*g* Well, no. But I think geezer!Lois/Richard/Clark would love grandchildren someday. (Thinking a little far ahead, I know, and I think it would also be lovely for grown up! Jason to adopt, if he wanted to raise a family.)

This is just a personal theory: but I'm wondering whether the interaction of Jason's genes with Metropolis' industrial environment also plays a part in his severe health problems.

[xenokattz]

*beats down the plotbunnies*

Away! Away, Demons!

[xenokattz]

Obviously you need chocolate. Or beignets. Or chocolate-dipped beignets and a brandy.

Medication, pshaw!