Myths about not mixing species

I hope this post is well received and useful for any breeders trying to learn more. In this post I will be specifically focusing on some of the myths and false beliefs that float around among breeders when it comes to not mixing species.<br><br>**Myth 1: Mixes are more prone to genetic defects**<br><br>Reality: The belief that mixed species are more prone to genetic defects is a myth. In reality, a mix between two different species may be less prone to genetic defects than a mix between two purebred individuals of the same species. The problem with saying mixes are more prone to genetic defects is that hybrid vigor plays a large role in this, and can have the opposite effect. In fact, studies have shown that dogs, which are a single breed but with a lot of mixed genetic ancestors, are actually one of the animals with the most genetic problems.<br><br>**Myth 2: They cannot reproduce**<br><br>Reality: This is a true and false statement. Some species will not reproduce successfully, and even if they do reproduce, they may not be fertile. But other species can reproduce successfully and can even have a fertile offspring. For instance male horses and female donkeys can produce a mule, which is not fertile, but a female horse and a male donkey can produce a hinny, which is fertile. <br>As we can see above, not all mixed species are infertile. It always comes down to the specific species being used. <br><br>**Myth 3: Mixing species is genetic modification**<br><br>Reality: Genetic modification and mixing species are two different things. Mixing species requires two parents, one from each parent species, to reproduce. Genetic modification, on the other hand, involves manipulating the genes of an animal directly, through genetic engineering. This can include adding or removing genes, changing the expression of genes, or other modifications.<br><br>**Myth 4: Mixing species creates new species**<br><br>Reality: Creating a new species is not that simple. Speciation, the process of creating a new species, is a complex process that occurs over many generations. It requires a population of animals to become isolated from the rest of their species, and then to evolve distinct characteristics that make them different from the original species. Simply mixing two different species does not automatically create a new species. What can happen instead is a hybrid, which will then create a hybrid swarm, which will eventually form a hybrid species. But this is a long, lengthy process that cannot be done by a single breeder, and is only done in nature by generations of generations of hybrids performing natural selection.