Question for Ajay Singh and Other Reputable Breeders - Page 1

You always hear people talk about how much the bitch and stud bring to a breeding.  I have heard people say that the bitch contributes 60-70% of the genetic make-up in the offspring.  Everyone I talk to has a different idea of what the two contribute.  I guess I was wondering what your studies and experience has lead you to believe? 

I don't know if I qualify as a breeder reputable or otherwise but I did take H.S. biology and was taught that 1/2 of the genetic makeup comes fram mothe and 1/2 from father.

GENETIC makeup is, of course, 50/50 sire/dam.  It can't be any other way.  However the female gives more input on temperament, nerve, character - so overall I believe the female has more to do with the end result puppy than the sire does.

molly

Good point molly, but I wonder how much of that is learned behavior from the dam raising the pups and not genetics?

That was kind of my point.  I shouldn't have said genentic. 

yes it is learned behavior from the dam raising the pups - genetically the puppies are 50/50 sire/dam.

molly

Dr. Jim Gannon has penned the following to Keep participants informed about important breeding issues. Let me ask the simple question—Do the sire and dam have equal input into the inherited qualities of the litter?

Now, of course, 99% of respondents will automatically say – Yes – but is that the reality? According to the information from Theresa Garton in Oklahoma City in USA, research has revealed irrefutable scientific evidence that challenges, and disproves, that popular traditional belief.

So the real ANSWER is – that the pregnant dog actually contributes more than 50% genetically to her litter. For the scientifically minded, this is how the apparent here say comes about: Every structure within the body is composed of millions of tiny cells (brain cells, liver cells, kidney cells, skin cells, etc). Every cell has three important components – a nucleus containing the genes hidden in the coils of DNA – a membrane (like a skin) that holds the contents of the cell together-and, the cytoplasm which is a jelly-like fluid filling the cell and supporting some other structure essential to cell operation, and, to life itself. Two of these life-support structures, within the cytoplasm, are the Mitochondria, and the Golgi Apparatus.

Now, the egg produced in the ovary is similar to any of the other millions of cells of which the body is composed – except it has only 50% of the mother’s genetic material (DNA) in it’s nucleus, same as the sire has in his sperm, BUT the egg also contains the mother’s cytoplasmic life-support Mitochondria, Golgi Apparatus, and all of the other enzymes within the normal cytoplasm.

On the other hand, the sperm contributed by the sire contains only the usual 50% of his genetic DNA in it’s nucleus, plus a tail to enable directional guidance when swimming, and a short-lived energy supply for the swim-but virtually no cytoplasm. (And consequently, none of it’s important life-supporting Mitochondria or Golgi Apparatus structures – these come only from the pregnant dog).

Fertilization occurs when the sperm of the sire locates and enters the egg of the pregnant dog, and the newly formed cell develops into a pup over the next nine weeks. However, it becomes immediately apparent that the pup which develops from that fertilized egg will have equal DNA contributions (genes) from each parent (50% DNA from each) within it’s nucleus, BUT, will also have all of the essential life-support systems of the Mitochondria and Golgi Apparatus from it’s mother’s egg within it’s cytoplasm – and these are inherited ONLY from the mother.

Without these life-support structures, the genes within the newly formed nucleus would never survive to reach their genetic potential – and, the efficiency of the working cell in later life will be totally dependent upon these cytoplasmic structures inherited from the pregnant dog.

The RESULT is that the litter really does inherit more from the mother than the sire. The LESSON is to select the brood pregnant dog with just as much care and attention as you would for the sire.

Molly

the point of bringing this up, is because you always hear more emphasis given to the stud.  There are numerous people out there that don't give a rat's ass who the female is as long as it is bred to Mr. X.  I know you have seen that ad in SCH USA magazine for the last few years that claims that the male reproduces himself over some % of any female.  The ad also claims that this Sch 1 dog is a 100 pt tracker and only needs to be tracked every 6 months to keep it at 100 points.  I have often wondered what that dog got in tracking for his Sch 1. If it didn't get 100 pts., I wonder what makes him a 100 pt tracker?

Proud Poppa

Thanks for the H.S. biology lesson.  I must have been out smoking my lunch.

First of all thank you for including me in the list of reputable breeders.  Breeding German Shepherds is a humbling experience, where you are just as good as the last dog someone saw from your breeding.  I try hard, and succeed to produce good dogs once in a while.

Breeding is not an exact science, so I don't believe in adding precise numbers and percentages to the contribution of parents.  A good bitch, a caring, and strong mother is a starting point of any breeding.  She must come from a good and healthy family as well.  So, after you have a female, you find out as much about her character, and health, and the same about her family.  Once you have a good gut feel about the female you are planning to breed, you look for a male that compliments your female.  Then you roll the dice and wait for good puppies.  Your work as a breeder is still not over.  You have to place the puppies with good owners, be prepared to support the puppy buyers, and hope for the best. 

A breeder must enjoy the high points of this experience because the lows are definately going to be there. 

By the way Don, your check is in the mail.  Next time send me a private email, otherwise, if you call me out on the list, I have to respond. 

Ajay Singh

www.ajaysingh.com

I always wonder why people discuss this.  There appears to be absolutely no argument when it comes to people!

Offspring  of ANYTHING are the product of 50% genes from each parent, WHICH ones is another matter!