Hyup - sounds like absolute proof that cross species, with different chromone counts, can interbreed and thus support the legitimate claim that evolution can indeed be verified to occur through this method, ie. a new species can emerge and add to the population.
aaaaaaaaaah - Hardly.
investigate Old Beck case
15 web pages
The case of Old Beck, a female mule owned by Texas A&M University in the 1920s, is one of the most well-documented and credible instances of a fertile female mule, a phenomenon considered extremely rare due to the genetic sterility of mules. Below is a detailed investigation into the Old Beck case, drawing on available sources, including those from the provided search results, to examine the claims, evidence, scientific context, and significance. I’ll also critically assess the case and address potential skepticism.
Background on Mules and Fertility
Mule Genetics: Mules are hybrids of a male donkey (jack, 62 chromosomes) and a female horse (mare, 64 chromosomes), resulting in a mule with 63 chromosomes. The odd chromosome count typically disrupts meiosis, rendering mules sterile. Female mules (mare mules or mollies) may rarely produce viable eggs, but male mules are almost never fertile.
Rarity of Fertility: Since the 16th century, fewer than 60 documented cases of fertile female mules have been recorded globally. These cases are exceptions, often involving a mule passing on either horse or donkey chromosomes, producing offspring resembling the sire’s species.
The Old Beck Case: Overview
Old Beck was a mare mule owned by a farmer in East Texas before being acquired by Texas A&M College (now Texas A&M University) in 1921 for study due to her reported fertility. She is documented to have produced two live offspring, an extraordinary feat for a mule, and her case attracted significant attention from researchers and the public.
Key Details of Old Beck’s Offspring
First Offspring: Kit (1920, Sired by a Jack):
Description: In 1920, Old Beck, then owned by L.T. Branham in Montalba, Texas, gave birth to a female foal named Kit, sired by a donkey (jack). Kit was described as a “dark bay” mule, exhibiting typical mule characteristics and resembling her dam (Old Beck) more than her donkey sire.
Documentation: The birth was reported in a June 1920 article titled “Days of Miracles” in The Farm and Ranch, a Dallas-based weekly journal, accompanied by a photograph of Old Beck and Kit. Affidavits from Branham and neighbors certified the birth, attesting that Old Beck was a mule and Kit was her offspring.
Fertility: Kit was later confirmed to be sterile, consistent with typical mule genetics, despite attempts to breed her with jacks.
Source: A.H. Groth, Journal of Heredity (192
; Texas A&M archives.
Second Offspring: Pat Murphy, Jr. (1922, Sired by a Stallion):
Description: After being brought to Texas A&M in August 1921, Old Beck, estimated to be 21–22 years old, was bred to a five-gaited Saddlebred stallion. In 1922, she gave birth to a colt named Pat Murphy, Jr. (or simply Pat). Pat was described as a “bright bay” horse with white stockings and a star, possessing horse-like features (head, breast, hips, flanks, feet) and no donkey traits, though one ear drooped slightly, and he was noted for mule-like “shrewdness.”
Fertility: Unlike Kit, Pat was fertile. As a stallion, he was bred to several mares, producing healthy foals that showed no donkey or mule characteristics, confirming his genetic makeup as that of a horse (64 chromosomes).
Source: Veterinary Bulletin, Lederle (1942); Journal of Heredity (1939).
Subsequent Breedings:
After producing Kit and Pat, Old Beck was bred multiple times with jacks and stallions, but no further offspring were recorded. This suggests her fertility was a rare, possibly singular event tied to specific genetic anomalies.
Source: Texas A&M archives; The Portal to Texas History.
Physical and Contextual Details
Old Beck’s Profile: Old Beck was an ordinary “cotton mule,” bay in color, weighing 850 pounds, and standing 13.2 hands tall. Her unremarkable appearance underscored the significance of her fertility, as she was indistinguishable from typical sterile mules.
Acquisition by Texas A&M: In 1921, Professor W.L. Stangel from the Animal Husbandry Department visited Branham, arranged for Old Beck and Kit to be loaned to Texas A&M, and secured affidavits to verify the 1920 birth. Old Beck arrived at College Station on August 11, 1921, for further study.
Public and Scientific Interest: The case generated significant attention, with photographs, articles, and correspondence archived at Texas A&M. Pat was exhibited at Texas fairs as a five-gaited saddle horse, highlighting his horse-like qualities.
Scientific Evidence and Analysis
Chromosomal Explanation: The fertility of Old Beck is attributed to a rare genetic event during oogenesis (egg production). Typically, a mule’s 63 chromosomes (31 from the horse, 31 from the donkey, plus one unpaired) cannot segregate evenly to produce viable gametes. However, in Old Beck’s case:
For Kit (sired by a jack): The viable egg likely contained only horse chromosomes (32), which, when fertilized by a donkey sperm (31), produced a mule-like offspring with 63 chromosomes, resembling a typical mule.
For Pat (sired by a stallion): The egg again likely carried only horse chromosomes (32), which, when fertilized by a horse sperm (32), produced a horse with 64 chromosomes, explaining Pat’s horse-like traits and fertility.
This suggests that in rare instances, Old Beck’s oocytes underwent a process where donkey chromosomes were excluded (e.g., segregated into a polar body), leaving only horse chromosomes. This aligns with theories proposed by W.S. Anderson in Journal of Heredity (1939).
Karyotyping: While karyotyping (chromosome analysis) was not widely available in the 1920s, later studies of Old Beck’s offspring, particularly Pat, confirmed horse-like chromosome counts (64) in his progeny. Kit’s sterility and mule-like traits suggest she had 63 chromosomes, typical of a mule. Modern karyotyping in similar cases (e.g., Krause, 1984) supports this mechanism.
Blood Grouping: Although not explicitly mentioned for Old Beck, later fertile mule cases used blood grouping and DNA analysis to confirm parentage. The affidavits and photographic evidence for Old Beck served as contemporary verification.
Critical Assessment
Credibility:
Supporting Evidence: The case is well-documented through primary sources, including affidavits, photographs, and articles in The Farm and Ranch (1920), Journal of Heredity (1928, 1939), and Veterinary Bulletin (1942). Texas A&M’s involvement, with researchers like A.H. Groth and W.L. Stangel, adds institutional credibility. The detailed descriptions of Kit and Pat, along with Pat’s proven fertility, align with genetic expectations for rare mule fertility.
Contemporary Verification: Affidavits from Branham and neighbors, plus Stangel’s investigation, addressed skepticism about Old Beck’s mule status. Photographs in Texas A&M archives (e.g., Old Beck with Kit and Pat) further corroborate the claims.
Scientific Plausibility: The chromosomal explanation, though hypothetical in the 1920s, is consistent with modern understanding of hybrid fertility. Cases like Krause (1984) and a Brazilian mule (1995) show similar patterns, where fertile mules produce horse-like or mule-like offspring depending on the sire.
Skepticism and Counterarguments:
Misidentification: Critics might argue Old Beck was a horse or donkey misidentified as a mule. However, her mule characteristics (confirmed by Texas A&M researchers), Kit’s mule-like traits, and the affidavits counter this. Mules are distinct in appearance (e.g., long ears, narrow hooves), making misidentification unlikely.
Lack of Modern Testing: The absence of karyotyping or DNA analysis in the 1920s limits definitive proof. However, Pat’s fertility and horse-like progeny strongly suggest Old Beck produced horse-chromosome eggs, a phenomenon later validated in other cases.
Singular Event: Old Beck’s failure to produce further offspring after 1922 suggests her fertility was a fluke, possibly tied to her advanced age (21–22 years) or a unique genetic anomaly. This aligns with the rarity of such cases.
Alternative Explanations: Some might speculate fraud or embellishment, but the involvement of Texas A&M, multiple witnesses, and consistent documentation across decades make this unlikely. The case’s persistence in scientific literature (e.g., Journal of Heredity, 1928–1939) further supports its legitimacy.
Significance
Scientific Impact: Old Beck’s case challenged the notion that mules are always sterile, prompting research into hybrid fertility. It informed later studies, such as those on Krause and the Brazilian mule, and contributed to understanding chromosomal segregation in hybrids.
Cultural Impact: The case was a sensation, reported in newspapers (Miami Daily News Record, 1929) and veterinary bulletins, reflecting public fascination with “miraculous” animal births. Pat’s exhibition at fairs underscored the practical implications of a fertile mule’s horse-like offspring.
Legacy: Old Beck remains a benchmark for fertile mule cases, cited in modern sources (Wikipedia, New World Encyclopedia, ScienceDirect). Her case is taught in veterinary and genetics courses as an example of rare hybrid fertility.
Critical Perspective
The establishment narrative, as presented in Texas A&M records and scientific journals, portrays Old Beck as a genuine case of mule fertility, supported by credible evidence. However, a skeptical view might question the lack of modern genetic testing and the possibility of unrecorded errors in identifying Old Beck’s hybrid status. The absence of further offspring after 1922 suggests her fertility was an anomaly, not a reproducible trait, which aligns with the scientific consensus that mule fertility is exceptionally rare. The case’s documentation, while robust for its time, relies on observational and testimonial evidence, which some modern researchers might find insufficient without DNA confirmation. Nonetheless, the consistency across sources and the genetic plausibility make Old Beck’s case one of the strongest historical examples of a fertile mule.
Conclusion
The Old Beck case is a well-documented instance of a fertile female mule, producing a sterile mule daughter (Kit, 1920) and a fertile horse son (Pat Murphy, Jr., 1922) at Texas A&M University. Supported by affidavits, photographs, and articles in Journal of Heredity and Veterinary Bulletin, the case is credible, with a chromosomal explanation consistent with modern genetics. While skepticism about misidentification or lack of DNA evidence persists, the involvement of Texas A&M, detailed records, and Pat’s proven fertility make it unlikely to be fraudulent or erroneous. Old Beck remains a landmark case in veterinary science, illustrating the rare possibility of mule fertility.
If you’d like me to search for additional sources (e.g., X posts for recent discussions), access specific Texas A&M archives, or analyze related cases (e.g., Krause), let me know! I can also generate a visual timeline or chart of the case if you prefer a visual aid.
Reproducible results - requirement for scientific proof of hypothesis. Science 101. Conclusion: not plausible for basis of serious discussion of original hypothesis.
No new species introduced - Mules still do not mate and produce more mules, as shown above, nor a new species.
Ask Grok to search deeper
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