Quote Originally Posted by Brutal_Dreamer View Post
That is so true. I noticed this also. They do seem the most 'visually' similar between different crosses. Anyone know?

Beautiful blooms, Ron. I suppose they are fragrant as well?

Cheers,
BD
I don't actually know. You would have to look at some phylogenies and look at the genetic distances, but those will only be based on a few genes.

It is a likelyhood, but there is no direct link between overall genetic variatoin and morphology - it is only the flower development genes that are in question. Also, certain genes can have big influences with small changes, whereas others would be subtle or unnoticable. Think about human development, if a developmental gene like juvenile growth hormone goes off, huge problems/changes occur. This is because those genes control so many different aspects of development.

Would you believe that this mushroom



is more closely related and more similar genetically to this



than to this


This is simply from a very small change in a plieotropic (one that controls many aspects of growth) developmental gene. The stalk doesn't develop and it is basically deformed. It has also evolved into a completely separate belowground niche driven by the change.


Sorry if I am stepping on this thread!