question about genetics??

[The Kid]

i had a guy at the local sports shop say to me tday that 80% of the genetics of a buck comes from the doe (or mom),, which doesn't make sense to me b/c i would think that it would be 50/50,, can someone help shed light on this idea?? thankks

[wtnhunt]

Don't know that it would be 80 percent from the doe, that does not sound right. Would imagine the genetic traits passed on would be closer to 50/50, but I am not a geneticist.

[Tominator]

That guy must have been asleep in biology class when they went over Mendel.

Momma's genes, daddy's genes and that's it. You can homozygous and heterozygous alleles, so a fawn might be born with a dominant trait, but only 50% of that came from momma or papa.

[m gardner]

I'm thinking what he may have meant was that most of what a buck will be comes from his mother's condition. A smart mature doe in good condition on good range with all the food and water she needs and during a year with mild weather will drop a fawn or fawns that are healthy. They will get big quick and have a good start. They have the potential to become monsters. That's why when I look for areas to hunt I want to know what the conditions were for 5 years before. I've got a little piece of heaven in Colorado I discovered that has some incredible bucks on it and thats the case there. Places like the Gunnison Basin got hit with a bad winter and won't recover for years even though the genetics are good. Here's one I passed with a bow last year because he was medocre. I can't wait until next year!Mark

[PotashRLS]

Dr. James Kroll has an awesome dvd out there that touches on all this. In there it is stated that 60% comes from the doe.

[Doc]

Hmmmm Seems to be a whole lot of difference of opinion. It may be that what is trying to be said is that certain specific genetic characteristics are more impacted by the doe's genetics, and not that the whole genetic package is 80% defined by the doe.

Doc

[Illinois59]

I think it's more like 59.4% comes from the doe.

It's not something that we can control. IMHO.

[huntermq32]

I remember James Kroll say that the doe has more to do with genetics then the buck but I don't remember the mix.I have been hunting the same 12 pt for 6.5 years I haven't seen any other 12pt runing around that remotely looks like him.I do know that this paticular buck was not born on the property that I hunt.He came in one year to winter on some standing and decided to stay.

[High Country]

Not sure what the 80% genetics is a reference to...

Biologically, in mammals, the nuclear compliment of normal cells is 50% from the male parent and 50% from the female parent...it is this genetic material which determines a deer's hereditary make-up and potential...

However, there is a second set of DNA found in the mitochondria of every cell...due to the mechanics of fertilization, the mtDNA is an exact match (with a few random mutations occurring in specific time intervals) of the mother's mtDNA...which means that all mammals' descent can be traced by maternal means. This DNA is important for the animal's survival, but does not determine characteristics (and in the case of a buck is not passed on)...

Of course, I am also of the opinion that the 8-pt rack is the dominant trait in male deer, with larger racks (e.g. 10 or 12 points being a recessive trait).

[Tominator]

Not sure what the 80% genetics is a reference to...

Biologically, in mammals, the nuclear compliment of normal cells is 50% from the male parent and 50% from the female parent...it is this genetic material which determines a deer's hereditary make-up and potential...

However, there is a second set of DNA found in the mitochondria of every cell...due to the mechanics of fertilization, the mtDNA is an exact match (with a few random mutations occurring in specific time intervals) of the mother's mtDNA...which means that all mammals' descent can be traced by maternal means. This DNA is important for the animal's survival, but does not determine characteristics (and in the case of a buck is not passed on)...

Of course, I am also of the opinion that the 8-pt rack is the dominant trait in male deer, with larger racks (e.g. 10 or 12 points being a recessive trait).

Awesome. Somebody listened in biology class.

50/50 folks. Simple genetics.

[Illinois59]

Duh!

Not sure what the 80% genetics is a reference to...

Biologically, in mammals, the nuclear compliment of normal cells is 50% from the male parent and 50% from the female parent...it is this genetic material which determines a deer's hereditary make-up and potential...

However, there is a second set of DNA found in the mitochondria of every cell...due to the mechanics of fertilization, the mtDNA is an exact match (with a few random mutations occurring in specific time intervals) of the mother's mtDNA...which means that all mammals' descent can be traced by maternal means. This DNA is important for the animal's survival, but does not determine characteristics (and in the case of a buck is not passed on)...

Of course, I am also of the opinion that the 8-pt rack is the dominant trait in male deer, with larger racks (e.g. 10 or 12 points being a recessive trait).

Exactly what i was going to say.

Thanks for the information.

[whttlbucksteve]

I'm not sure but hopefully the one to make them taste good getts passed down.LOL

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

...Of course, I am also of the opinion that the 8-pt rack is the dominant trait in male deer, with larger racks (e.g. 10 or 12 points being a recessive trait).

Correct. The "normal" condition for a mature whitetail buck is 8 points and about 130 inches B&C. Getting bucks with more than 8 points is the most difficult trait to develop in a herd. That's why it is so important to let the young bucks with multiple points walk, if you're interested in growing trophy class deer.