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]