We see in wildlife mules, ligers and tigons as example of genetic dead end offspring as their parents were genetically too distinct
At the same time offspring from genetically too similar parents : siblings cousins etc produces an offspring with bad genes
What is the goldilocks zone genetically that is considered just right? Is it the same or different among species?
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It depends on the organisms. For mammals it seems a few times removed is best because the rate of our protein production and developmental life cycle phases. For plants and some organisms they can impregnate themselves amd its fine because their genes don’t matter as much about how much proteins they produce… like a plant,it will just keep growing if it can maintain a proper balance of nutrients uptake…f it is making too many proteins due to a certain gene combination. Humans for example have a more complicated life and growth cycle which uses far more chemicals amd we aren’t allowed as much tolerance om our gene variation then say an insect is. We have a delicate chromosomal balance relative to other species. If a strawberry picks up a few more chromosomes accidentally it may grow better than before.
Reproduction is really the sweet spot though. If the liger is born infertile then that’s not good for its population. It mostly depends on just how similar the sexual reproduction portions of the genes are. If they are very very similar than the mechanisms of sex organs and reproduction can continue indefinitely but if they are too different the sex organs wo t produce the right amount of chemicals for the new animal and it likely will not ve able to reproduce itself or die like you mentioned.
It’s like taking an engine out of one car amd putting it into another, depending on the similarities of the entire system will determine the effectiveness of the new motor.
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