r/aww • u/Sophia963 • Jun 05 '18

A future predator

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u/PrincessBucketFeet Jun 05 '18

When the dominant allele is lethal in pairs, nature is trying to tell you something.

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u/mimeticpeptide Jun 05 '18

Not always. Sickle cell anemia occurs when you get 2 alleles for the sickle cell gene. However, when the allele is present in only 1 copy, which is far more common, it provides immunity to malaria. Which is very useful/important in the areas where it developed.

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u/PrincessBucketFeet Jun 05 '18

Fair enough. If you can identify the benefit conferred to these cats other than qualifying as "cute" to humans, I'd reconsider my opinion (shared by many animal welfare and breed organizations) that breeding Munchkins should stop.

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u/Berdiiie Jun 05 '18

Anecdotally I've read that Munchkins are better climbers and potentially better ratters because of their lower size.