Part I and Part II were combined in the post above. The title was made "Part I" when I posted it on a forum ( http://members5.boardhost.com/SSDA/ ) that wouldn't allow all the words in a single post. Thanks for the correction about there being tens of thousands of loci. When writing, I was in the mindset of "the endless possibilities" so to speak...but truthfully I was thinking of the combinations. And with many alleles choices for vast majority of the loci...and with quantitative traits...the possibilies of different outcomes are indeed "endless" as no two individuals besides identical twins are ever the same.

The reason I didn't go into mitochondial DNA any more than mentioned in my original post is simply because it isn't influenced by the father, but only the mother...and even then it isn't part of the "genome" so to speak being it isn't found in the chromosomes, and therefore isn't influenced by genetic principles. Being this was intended to be a post on genetics, mitochondial DNA wasn't intended to be my focus at this time...however, you are correct in the fact that the mitochondia do convert energy into a usuable form for the cell...and for this reason I have often thought that maternal mitochondia DNA may play a role in metabolism or stamina as well, but for me is speculation on my part as I don't know this to be an abolute fact and so I didn't comment on it further than is mentioned. Also, it is my opinion that the role of mitochondial DNA (that doesn't follow genetic principles) is far less significant than is the role of the entire genome (that does follow genetic principles)...but I am certain we both would agree much of this still remains to be learned. Simply put...knowing what we know today, there is no reason for breeders to remain so amazing clueless on how to put at least some of the basics of modern genetic knowledge into application...yet repeatedly I see breeders fumbling through the most elementary of concepts and doing it with error. Not long ago I heard someone foolishly claiming their dog was sired by two sires. :roll: (and that was a "reputable breeder"... :wink: )

It was observing repeated ignorance (I am not saying stupidity, but ingornance) that motivated me to post this message.