Include

[Hawkeye]

Lab rats are not exactly genetically identical but they are all autosomal recessive (ie if there is an infusion of another genetic strain with an autosomal dominant feature) it will show up immediately. This I know very well as I did my thesis on transplantation immunology and we had to have genetically identical rat strains of various forms so we could create antibodies against specific genetic markers. The inbreeding that we had was 32nd generation of back breeding and the rats were all genetically tested to determine that they were identical.

They weren't really around long enough to get too many problems (ie most were used prior to their first birthday) but several of the breeding stock were scarificed because of tumour formation.

Brodie I am a medical doctor NOT your biology teacher

Cheers Hawkeye