Why can't you crossbreed two things of different races?

Question

Like a gorilla and a human? Or a catdog? I realize it'd be gross. But what makes it physically impossible for that to happen?

Well... I've seen dogs hump cats... granted, it'd be mean to make the cat give birth, in fact... downright cruel. But I've seen bunnies hump cats.

I'm just wondering what would happen if the sperm actually got anywhere.

Of different genders? Hmm? So a man and a woman can't have sex? I believe you're thinking of another word.

Answer 1

First, as others have said, "races" are just different variations of the same species, and different races of the same species _do_ breed normally (except when they're very different in some feature that makes reproduction unsuccessful, for instance if a female chihuahua mates with, say, a male Alsatian).

In the case of different biological species, there are a lot of mechanisms that, alone or in combination, prevent crossbreeding.
Some of these factors make it difficult or impossible for the individuals of different species to actually meet and mate (these are called pre-mating barriers), for instance:
- Different aspect or behavior, so that they won't recognize each other as potential mates
- Their genitalia (sex organs) do not fit together

If these barriers don't exist or are overcome, there are other, post-mating but pre-fertilization barriers:
- The male gametes (sperm) cannot combine with the female gamete for physical or chemical reasons

And if the gametes are able to combine, usually the number, type and morphology of the chromosomes from each parent do not match, and so there is not adequate genetic information for normal development of an embryo.

Sometimes the hybrid does develop, but is in turn sterile...

These are some examples, there are many others. If you're interested, read more here:
http://www.umbc.edu/biosci/Faculty/MendelsonLab/Reproductive.htm (list of types of barriers)

http://www.msubillings.edu/ScienceFaculty/Syring/BIOL315/315.Speciation.pdf

Answer 2

Jordan i do no longer keep in mind once you are the single I responded this for or whether it replaced into somebody else so here is going.... What might happen might count on how heavily they are appropriate. in the event that they have an identical style of chromosomes with an identical genes interior an identical places then the offspring could be attainable. this ability the mating ought to create an offspring that ought to stay or perhaps reproduce with the two yet another hybrid or the two discern species. this occurs with greater advantageous and lesser blue footed boobies occassionally. besides the undeniable fact that they are so behaviorally mal adjusted they are able to no longer locate acquaintances. that's what keeps those 2 species seperate and distinctive species. otherwise they might merge into one species. At different circumstances the chromosomes the two do no longer adventure up precisely superb or distinctive genes are chanced on on distinctive chromosomes and the effect is that the hybrid is sterile. that's what happens with horses and donkeys and with lions crossed with tigers. The hybrid can no longer have youthful. yet another hazard is that the chromosomes do no longer adventure up in any respect. the effect that's that the mating will produce...no longer something. No offspring what so ever. that's what happens if a canines and a cat, or a bunny and a cat and particular even a human and an ape have been to mate.

Answer 3

it isnt impossible so to say, but the problem is the animals. do you really think that a cat and a dog are going to mate? No. Do you think a gorilla and a human would mate? Of course not, but there is a way. Scientist have found way to create embryos with the same species, i'm sure it wouldnt be any different if you mix 2 different animals together.


only problem is what to do with it after its born, lol

Answer 4

I belive it does happen and is called "artificial selection--The breeding of plants and animals to produce desirable traits. Organisms with the desired traits, such as size or taste, are artificially mated or cross-pollinated with organisms with similar desired traits". They are known as HYBRID--is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa.

The Liger, tigon, mules could be an examples:
---The liger is a hybrid cross between a male Panthera leo (lion), and a female Panthera tigris (tiger).
---A cat born to a tiger father and a lion mother is known as a Tigon.
---Mules are the result of breeding a horse with a donkey

All are presumed to be born sterile. This is not unusual for hybrids, although there is an occasional, extremely rare, exception.

This happens only with HUMAN intervention. Ligers do not occur in the wild, they result only from captive breeding. This is not because it is impossible, just extremely unlikely as the two species ranges overlap only slightly and a tiger would not be likely to associate with a pride of lions.

Answer 5

When two similar species live in the same geographical area, they develop genetic markers that kill off the offspring in the very early stages of development. This is necessary to prevent the wasted energy in developing an embryo that would die later anyway. These markers don't develop in species that don't meet up, and that's why lions from Africa and tigers from Asia can crossbreed.

Answer 6

It is impossible to crossbreed two different genders. I mean, a dog, 'Canis familiaris', and a wolf, 'Canis lupus', can mate, because although they are of different species, they are of the same gender, but the result will be a hybrid (which can't have any offspring). However, a dog and a wild cat, 'Felis silvestris', can't mate, because they are of different genders.

Answer 7

um...gorillas and humans are not differnt "races" they are seperate species.

there are such things as hybrids (e.g., mules, ligers).

the reason why there aren't more hybrid animals around is due to 1.) animals usually don't tend to mate with animals from other species because of 2.) anatomical incompatability (think about it =X) and ultimately 3) egg/sperm incompatibility

Answer 8

First of all, in biology, there is no such thing as a 'race'.

The way it goes is: KINGDOM; PHILUM; CLASS; ORDER; FAMILY; GENUS; SPECIES.

Only at the species level can different individuals reproduce.

Answer 9

Because of the different DNA ... it could be a miss match and would be a mutant haha

Answer 10

Yes, That's how we got the mule. It is the offspring of a donkey and a horse.