Mutants

[earthtiger]

Are you thinking of buying a mutant or do you not like that they are a bit more abundant than in past years?

nope, I am just curious and want to understand mutants better.
When did the first pop up? Can they pop up in every "line" or only in specific? Why are some mutants showing that they are mutants already as tadpoles and others start to change when they are already ab bit larger. Why are there only so few photos of adult mutants. Why are all mutants looking differently and none looks like another? What happens when you breed a mutant to a mutant? Is it genetic? ....

[GrifTheGreat]

nope, I am just curious and want to understand mutants better.
When did the first pop up? Can they pop up in every "line" or only in specific? Why are some mutants showing that they are mutants already as tadpoles and others start to change when they are already ab bit larger. Why are there only so few photos of adult mutants. Why are all mutants looking differently and none looks like another? What happens when you breed a mutant to a mutant? Is it genetic? ....

It is definitely genetic. I would guess that during developement when their DNA is forming that there is a mutated gene or protein that is present for those that are already mutants as tadpoles. Those that change later probably have this mutated gene laying dormant and s they grow something causes it to activate.

As for why they loom different from one another would have to do with variation in chromosome pairing. Think about how you ressemble your parents or a sibling yet you are not exactly alike. The frogs don't look exactly like their parents or siblings either though the differences are usually very minute and subtle. I would assume that these variations in appearance just become severely drastic in those with the mutated gene. I don't know enough about genetics to really provide a concrete answer for this phenomenon.

The lack of photos of adult mutants could be from premature death. Since little is understood about their mutation there could bad mutations hidden in their genes as well causing weakened immune system or maybe even one that halts developement early which would greatly reduce the life span of the frog. There just isn't enough information on them.

I believe there is a potential for mutation in all frogs. I guess the first mutant to exist would have to be the first albino that Kim Thomas produced, but thats a different mutation all together.