11th May 2005, 10:56 PM
Well, there are a number of genes that can't be passed on due to their very nature as well. Think of progeria (nature's CRUELEST joke!). It's advanced aging disease that kills children by making them age to death by roughly 8 to 12 years old. They don't reproduce, but progeria shows up, and it's genetic. Why? Well, there's one key thing about genetics to keep in mind. Recessive traits. Then, combined recessive traits that can thus express themselves. Need I say more?
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)