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You already know that the ability to roll your tongue is governed by a gene. Is the gene dominant, or recessive? Um... not sure. Parents who can't roll their tongues can have a child who can. That works for a recessive gene (r) meaning "can roll" if the dominant one (R) expresses itself as "can't roll". But possibly, roll is determined by some interacting genes that need to be around in some combination to let you roll your tongue.
But the story isn't so simple. If one of a pair of genetically identical twins can roll her tongue, it doesn't mean the other can. Seems there must be interaction between the genetics and the environment. Hey, now there's a surprise. Let's run that one again. Your DNA isn't a blueprint for you. It's a set of instructions that interacted, and continues to interact, with your environment, to create you. Your genetic clone would not think or feel or react like you.
So the environment can interact with genetics. Which bit of the environment interacted with her genes to create the ability to roll her tongue? How the hell should I know? How would you even begin to answer that question?
This messy expression of genes is called variable penetrance. Sounds sordid, vaguely, but what's really sordid is that we are plonking about, messing with the genetics of things, and calling it genetic engineering. It sounds nice and clinical, and predictable. So it is, if you pretend variable penetrance doesn't really happen - the universe is tidier that way, and we can play sorcerer's apprentice to our heart's content.
Buteo buteo
Common Buzzard
Mäusebussard
Poiana
Commune de Bugeat
Parc naturel régional de Millevaches
Corrèze - Limousin - France
A composition for weather systems ..part of the b-side arts festival in Portland..beautiful music in surround sound around the stones!
Dorset 09.09.2014
Oaa Tseldor has a third arm that protrudes from the middle of his back, and he only has three fingers on each hand. His ability was to manifest a new super-power each time, moving him up or down the evolutionary scale of his species.
Read up more on Oaa at his Comic Vine entry.
...means the KAP rig often bobbed a little too close to the ground.
Photo taken from a camera suspended from a kite - kite aerial photography, or KAP for short.
This male was very nervous because of the presence of a female nearby.
Don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © 2010 Johannes Mayer, All rights reserved.
These PTP-1 F-Type variable spring assemblies fabricated from A-36 carbon steel, were custom designed to accommodate a height of 11-11/16" while keeping the same spring rate. The F-Type variable is used to support the pipe from below and are typically mounted to concrete pads via anchor bolts or welded to structural steel. The variables are designed for loads up to 6,500 lb. and a total upward travel of 5/16".
Greengrove Nature Reserve, Harare, Zimbabwe
Not sure if this female is in love with her own image or if I have finally found a bird that is interested in Landrovers? She made more than ten trips to the wing mirrors on either side of the vehicle.
I suspect that the reddish colouration around the throat/chin is some kind of pollen staining ?
Taken at Carara NP, Costa Rica, 1st Jan 2016. Taken quite deep into forest and not in an open area normally associated with seedeaters
These PTP-1 F-Type variable spring assemblies fabricated from A-36 carbon steel, were custom designed to accommodate a height of 11-11/16" while keeping the same spring rate. The F-Type variable is used to support the pipe from below and are typically mounted to concrete pads via anchor bolts or welded to structural steel. The variables are designed for loads up to 6,500 lb. and a total upward travel of 5/16".