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Genetic Diversity - 2008/09/14 13:56 Is this of any practical concern with our worm populations? After all, our worms are sexual beings. I know inbreeding is considered a significant problem in a great number of species. What about our worms?

What with not periodically adding "new blood" to the gene pool of a worm bin -- that can go on in isolation for many generations! Is there any risk of eventually engendering a less robust population in our worm ecosystems?

Like.. Maybe we should at least move a few worms from one bin to another from time to time. Or, purchase worms from a different supplier each time.

I suspect we each can have guesses about this. Does anyone know of what any significant research has had to say about it?
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Re:Genetic Diversity - 2008/09/14 16:31 According to a study in Europe sibling-inbreeding can reduce the number of cocoons by 30% and outbreeding to a line distant (two different breeders located across country could qualify for "distant") can reduce cocoon production by as much as 17%. That was a study in Spain done with E. andrei using commercial highly reproductive lines of stock.
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Re:Genetic Diversity - 2008/09/15 08:14 So, the inbreeding causes about a net 15% reduction in reproduction -- that is, net over its outbreeding alternative. I guess that's something we all just live with? I'd be happy to hear what others have to say about this.
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