> On Sep 7, 2015, at 1:03 PM, Christina Wahl <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 

> We all know what happens to humans when inbreeding is practiced.  The same should be happening to inbred mites.  



I work with lab mice. These have been inbred for 100 years. Genetically, they are virtually identical, which is why they are used in genomic research. Occasionally, there are anomalies but these are very rare. We backcross our own strains with purchased lab mice to maintain the integrity of the inbred line which serves as a background for the studies.



In nature, unfit offspring would die, while surviving inbred lines would no longer need to outcross to maintain fitness. Granted, varroa is a parasite, which depends entirely on its host for survival. In the same way, lab mice depend entirely on us for survival and probably would not very long outside of the lab environment.



> Inbreeding results in homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits, which can then be eliminated through assortative breeding or through culling. The inbreeding guarantees a consistent and uniform animal model for experimental purposes and enables genetic studies in congenic and knock-out animals. The use of inbred strains is also important for genetic studies in animal models, for example to distinguish genetic from environmental effects.— Wikipedia







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