Science and Pokémon: Pokémon eggs: Analyzing the concepts behind the game

[autumn]

The article was really interesting,kinda makes me want a Platypus pokemon...(I'm fairly sure PsyDUCK is a duck)

 

[Kutomba]

Wow, that was really fascinating.

 

[Nt '95 trainer]

I thought this was a neat article. As a biology nerd, I've often pondered the mechanics of Pokémon breeding.

Since different kinds of Pokémon can breed with each other, and the rough definition of a species is a population that can interbreed, we can consider all breeding Pokémon to be members of a single, super-diverse species. This isn't unprecendented in nature. The best example is dogs. All domestic dogs, no matter what the breed, are part of the same species, Canis lupus. In fact, they make up a subspecies, Canis lupus familiaris. Dogs can look very different, but all breeds are capable of interbreeding... at least genetically, though there may be practical barriers.

And I consider these practical barriers to be the primary reason for "egg groups". We can't class egg groups as separate species because there are Pokémon that can be in more than one egg group at the same time. Instead, let's think of egg groups as a group of Pokémon with shared physical characteristics that make interbreeding easy. A Pokémon from a different egg group may find it physically difficult - impossible, even - to mate with them. A Chihuahua and a Great Dane are genetically compatible, but their great difference in size would make the chances of them mating very slim. I think that similar physical barriers are what keep Pokémon in different egg groups from interbreeding (though evidently size isn't one of them, as we know from Skitty and her beloved Wailord).

What about Pokémon in two egg groups? Well, just as a dog intermediate in size between a Chihuahua and Great Dane could breed with both, Pokémon in two egg groups probably represent intermediate states between the two groups.

There's also the factor of behavioural differences. Dogs can breed with wolves, for example, but they almost never do because their habits are different, and essentially they just aren't attracted to each other. This may also be a big factor in egg groups, if we're to believe the Day Care Man. Pokémon that are incompatible are described as showing no interest in each other, which is consistent with this theory.

Finally, as for Pokémon in the "no eggs" group, I've always maintained that they probably can breed, just not in captivity. While there's a handful of legendaries, such as Mewtwo, that might truly be considered one-offs, Most "no eggs" Pokémon must have some way of reproducing. Unown is an example - there's bloody millions of them. And it seems downright illogical that Nidorina and Nidoqueen should be unable to breed... far better to assume that the conditions in the daycare just aren't right for them to do it.

Mostly what I was thinking, so if you back it up, I feel more certain.