>
>
>caryho at ix.netcom.com wrote:
>
>> In The Dawn of the Third Age "Adrian R. Tappin" <atappin at ecn.net.au>
>> woke me from my contemplation by writing:
>>
>> >Heres some late breaking news that's come in from my correspondents in the
>> >field!
>> >
>> >>As we discussed a while back DNA tests apparently show that the Utchee
>> >>Ck's are the new species of rainbow and closely related to crimson spot
>> >>rainbows. I have not seen the papers on this so this info may or may
>> >>not be fully correct.
>> >
>> >Well now, what do you all think of that ;-)
>> >
>> >Adrian.
>>
>> I'm not sure what to think of it unless there are some references as
>> to who said it. As to DNA testing being enough to define a species,
>> there seems to be considerable dissention in the scientific community
>> to its validity.
>
>Where is this dissention? I ve been following this subject and have not heard
>anything from people that I talk to or read other articles on the matter of
>DNA grouping. JiM C.
>
Actually most of the people I've talked to that describe new species
have been against using DNA testing. Teeth counts, scale counts, ray
counts, skeletal structure and in some families color are the
standards they use. Some have said it may someday be a tool, but at
present isn't useful. We had a thread about a year or two back (has
this list really been around that long?) were a few folks using
familiar with genetic testing methods, couldn't even come close to
agreeing amongst themselves as to the best genetic test method.
Seems many think genetic testing is a panacea for defining a species.
While it can tell how much genetic material is in common between fish,
how do you define how much difference there needs to be for species to
be different species? This will still remain up to the judgement of
the person making the determination. Which genetic test method is
best? Again up to the individuals judgement. And now they have to
convince the rest of the scientific community that they have a valid
reason for defining a species by a standard the rest do not use. While
at the same time the proponents of this method cannot agree to a
standard test or level. It appears genetic testing has an up hill
battle for acceptance in the science of species definition.
Cary Hostrawser
My Rainbowfish Home Page
http://pw2.netcom.com/~caryho/home.html
Rainbowfish Study Group Web Page
http://home.stlnet.com/~gwlange/rainbowfish.index.html