Repeat Litters Are Interesting - Page 2

So basically the differences between the two are that the bitch was fed raw while with second litter, and it being her second time with pups. It would be interesting to find out if others have noticed such a difference between litters under similar/same instances. More readily available and digestible nutrient sources for the dam from the raw food makes up the difference in bone density of the pups?    Correlation or coincidence?

Not a biologist but the number of possible permutations in individual genes allows a large variation in repeat litters.

I have no idea what that means other than repeating is not cloning.

Not a biologist but the number of possible permutations in individual genes allows a large variation in repeat litters.

It absolutely does :)  Lots of people repeat thinking they will get exactly the same thing.  I repeated my litter hoping for more temperaments like I got in the first litter (successful), but really was not expecting the same animals physically.  In certain aspects, I got better animals

Very interesting post Xeph!

The variation in repeat litters is in part genetic but primarily environment. If the genetic variation among siblings was immense then brother - sister, sire - daughter, and mother - son mating would be fine ... but they aren't. What is immense within a litter or a group of unrelated ( same breed but different sire and dam ) is the possible response to environment of each and every puppy regardless of sire and dam. A group of GSD puppies share 99.99% of their genetics .. they must to be GSD puppies. The high response of genetics to environment is what makes tiny differences in genetic composition of both dogs and humans produce huge phenotypic and behavioral differences. These tiny differences in DNA are magnified by environment and then cascade through other systems including messenger RNA creating both good and bad traits. Combine the fact that environment can switch on and off different genes and messenger RNA in a countless combination for each individual then environmental modification of genetic expression is the driver for rapid modification of a species or subspecies. Identical twins will over time become less identical because of the influence of environment which is proof positive that genetic potential is modified by environment.

" Identical twins will over time become less identical because of the influence of environment which is proof positive that genetic potential is modified by environment. "
Bubba, I don´t think genetics do change " that easy ", " normal "environment is able to change behavior, beliefs, health and outlook.
Genes in itself will only be modified by extreme exposure ( poison, chemicals, radiation, deseases, or else ).

What susie said