If an individual presents in a certain way then that is how the individual
is termed: female, redhaired, green-eyed, albino, male, androgenous, blond,
tall, short, whatever, BUT this is with the understanding that the GENOTYPE
may be different from how the individual presents.  In fact, a person would
be VERY hard pressed to find someone whose phenotype (how the person
presents) is actually matched completely to the genotype (what genes are
present).  This is because too many things in the environment (diet,
illnesses, stresses, etc.) affect the expression of a gene, and genes at
other loci can also affect how much or whether a gene is expressed.  For
example, it's entirely possible that an individual may present as a true
albino physically but NOT be an albino genetically.  In this case the
individual would be CALLED an albino, BUT it would ALWAYS be kept in mind by
EVERYONE in the discussion that the individual may NOT be an albino
genetically.  Yes, it IS possible to refer to the same individual and call
that one "albino" in one breath and then "not genetically albino" in the
next.  This is where one of the discussions here keeps hitting the wall, and
that could be taken care of if the posters simply clarified genotype vs.
phenotype, or recognized which of the two was being discussed in any
sentence from the content and then cut some slack.
 
Two of our guys still have the runs.  Don't know what's going around.  It's
something humans and ferrets BOTH get, is NOT passed casually (The tiny kits
never got it despite being in a different cage in the same room and sharing
nose bumps with the others at times past.), apparently messes up the sense
of smell (Pepto Bismol actually tastes GOOD to these guys when they get it
(Will wonders never cease?), but many normal items such as many of their
foods and treats are ignored until they are rubbed onto the sick ones'
mouths.), does not impact greatly on their activity levels or drinking,
stinks to high heaven and causes very yellow waste.  All the big ones have
had it.  The sables ("teen-aged" kit Jumpstart and four and a half year old
Meeteetse) got past it with almost no effect on them.  The blaze, 'Chopper
the Organic Helicopter who is 5 and a half had a middling case -- about like
the people.  The two albinos (3 year old Warp and 4 and a half year old
Spot) are having a MUCH harder time of it in terms of getting past the runs
and being able to retain weight.  VETS, do albinos typically have a worse
time with GI ailments or mucus membrane inflammations or is this just a
coincidence (and a quirk of my having such a small sample that I shouldn't
even wonder about this question, given that I have nothing to really base it
upon)?  Obviously, does NOT fit the ECE profile in multiple regards, so
don't worry on that score, anybody.
 
The tiny guys now: tails are just starting to grow out, Ashling has
discovered water dish drag game, Scooter has two canines through the gums
and the upper two showing while all Ashling's four are a touch further
along.  Scooter hit one pound yesterday and Ashling is trying for 11 ounces.
They are around 9 and a half weeks, though he is obviously a few days
younger than she is.
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 1919]