The term "stacking", while standard in plant biology, is used informally within the crested gecko community to describe the selective breeding of traits or the combination of distinct traits. This usage, however, can be misleading.
Examples:
"His pinstripe line has been stacked for many generations."
"This gecko exhibits hypo stacked with tangerine."
Understanding the Concept:
1. Generational "Stacking" (Selective Breeding):
This phrase should not be used to imply the literal accumulation of multiple gene copies. Instead, it refers to the process of selective breeding where breeders consistently choose individuals displaying the most pronounced expression of a desired trait.
Over generations, individuals with weaker expressions are eliminated, resulting in a lineage where the trait is consistently expressed at its maximum potential. This is the core principle of selective breeding.
2. Combining Distinct Traits: "Stacking" used to describe the combination of two or more separate genetic traits.
These traits may interact or enhance each other's expression, but they maintain independent inheritance and individual expression levels.
In this context, "stacking" simply signifies the presence of multiple, distinct traits within a single animal.
In essence, while "stacking" is a convenient shorthand, it is beneficial to understand that it refers to either the focused enhancement of a single trait through selective breeding or the combination of multiple independent traits, rather than the literal accumulation of genes.
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