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The Angelfish Society: The Angelfish Society: Standards CommitteeStandards Committee

What is it? Why is it? What does it What is it? Why is it? What does it do?do?

A presentation for the A presentation for the October 18, 2009 TAS October 18, 2009 TAS

MeetingMeeting

By Tamar StephensBy Tamar Stephens

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Purpose of this presentationPurpose of this presentation The founding members of TAS considered this committee The founding members of TAS considered this committee

to be the most important committee in TAS, and central to be the most important committee in TAS, and central to the purposes of TAS. to the purposes of TAS.

Every two years, on odd numbered years, elections are Every two years, on odd numbered years, elections are held to select the members of the Standards Committee. held to select the members of the Standards Committee.

This presentation will tell you why this committee exists This presentation will tell you why this committee exists and how it serves the purposes of TAS.and how it serves the purposes of TAS.

Elections for Standards Committee members will take Elections for Standards Committee members will take place in December 2009. This presentation will help you place in December 2009. This presentation will help you understand the role of this committee so you can make understand the role of this committee so you can make more informed decisions for voting, and maybe so you more informed decisions for voting, and maybe so you will enter your name as a candidate for this committee!will enter your name as a candidate for this committee!

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TAS has two kinds of TAS has two kinds of Committees Committees

Standards Committee (Bylaws Article VI) Standards Committee (Bylaws Article VI) – PermanentPermanent committee committee– ElectedElected members, members, – May not be terminated by the Board of DirectorsMay not be terminated by the Board of Directors

All Other Committees (Bylaws Article VII) All Other Committees (Bylaws Article VII) – StandingStanding committees committees– Appointed by the Board of DirectorsAppointed by the Board of Directors to advance the work to advance the work

of TAS (such as website, newsletter, etc.), or special of TAS (such as website, newsletter, etc.), or special committees for particular projectscommittees for particular projects

– Always Always subject to the final authority of the Board of subject to the final authority of the Board of DirectorsDirectors

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Standards CommitteeStandards Committee

Five membersFive members

Two year terms (elected at Two year terms (elected at annual meeting on odd years)annual meeting on odd years)

Totally responsible for the Totally responsible for the development of TAS angelfish development of TAS angelfish naming standards naming standards

Its proposed standards may Its proposed standards may be adopted or rejected by TAS be adopted or rejected by TAS Board of Directors, but may Board of Directors, but may not be modified by the Board not be modified by the Board

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ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

The bylaws specify these core The bylaws specify these core responsibilities:responsibilities:

Rule on a proposed new Rule on a proposed new mutation name within 90 days mutation name within 90 days of being submitted by either a of being submitted by either a TAS member or the Board. TAS member or the Board. – Bylaws specify the research that Bylaws specify the research that

needs to be submitted for needs to be submitted for evaluation.evaluation.

– Bylaws provide guidelines to the Bylaws provide guidelines to the committee for determining committee for determining naming standards.naming standards.

Establish official gene notation Establish official gene notation to be used by TAS members.to be used by TAS members.

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What has the Standards What has the Standards Committee done so far for Committee done so far for

TAS?TAS?

In addition to performing the core duties specified In addition to performing the core duties specified by the bylaws, the Standards Committee has also by the bylaws, the Standards Committee has also developed resources and materials for TAS related developed resources and materials for TAS related to naming angelfish, genetics, identifying to naming angelfish, genetics, identifying phenotypes and genotypes, and supporting good phenotypes and genotypes, and supporting good breeding practices. breeding practices.

The next few pages describe specific The next few pages describe specific

accomplishments of the committee.accomplishments of the committee.

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In 2001…In 2001…

Genetic notation Genetic notation – Developed TAS rules for genetic notationDeveloped TAS rules for genetic notation– Identified the known mutations and their Identified the known mutations and their

genetic notationgenetic notation– Provided methods for submitting a new gene Provided methods for submitting a new gene

mutation to the committee mutation to the committee

Created the genetic calculatorCreated the genetic calculator

Wrote the genetics calculator guideWrote the genetics calculator guide

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In 2002…In 2002… Angelfish Growth Stages Angelfish Growth Stages

– Defined what is meant by Defined what is meant by egg, wigglers, fry, egg, wigglers, fry, juveniles, and adultsjuveniles, and adults

TAS Recommended TAS Recommended Standard Angelfish Sizes Standard Angelfish Sizes – Defined metric and Defined metric and

English measurements for English measurements for dime, nickel, quarter, half dime, nickel, quarter, half dollar, dollar and dollar dollar, dollar and dollar plus sizes for angelfish. plus sizes for angelfish.

– Size is based on body Size is based on body size, excluding finnage size, excluding finnage

A “quarter” size angelfish has a body about the same diameter as a US quarter coin.

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2003…2003…

Conformation standardsConformation standards– Defined standards for physical traits: Defined standards for physical traits:

body, fins, color, size, and deportmentbody, fins, color, size, and deportment

Culling guideCulling guide– Identified specific defects for which Identified specific defects for which

angelfish should be culledangelfish should be culled– Identified culling methodsIdentified culling methods

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2005…2005…

Original Phenotype Library Original Phenotype Library – Began collected photos for use in a Began collected photos for use in a

phenotype libraryphenotype library– Created volume 1 of a planned 13-Created volume 1 of a planned 13-

volume libraryvolume library

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2007…2007…

New Phenotype Library (different New Phenotype Library (different organization from what was planned organization from what was planned for original phenotype library)for original phenotype library)– First section has single-locus First section has single-locus

phenotypesphenotypes– Second section has multi-locus Second section has multi-locus

phenotypesphenotypes– Has descriptions and photos for over 60 Has descriptions and photos for over 60

phenotypesphenotypes

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Current work in progress…Current work in progress… Draft Manual for Identification and Draft Manual for Identification and

Verification of the Genetics of a New Verification of the Genetics of a New Mutation of Mutation of Pterophyllum scalarePterophyllum scalare

(Anticipated release of draft manual: (Anticipated release of draft manual: January 2010)January 2010)– How to identify a new gene or alleleHow to identify a new gene or allele– What kinds of crosses to make to verify a new What kinds of crosses to make to verify a new

mutation and how to interpret the resultsmutation and how to interpret the results– Guidelines for submitting information to the Guidelines for submitting information to the

Standards CommitteeStandards Committee– Breeding record template to simplify record Breeding record template to simplify record

keepingkeeping– Identifies mutations for which genetics has not Identifies mutations for which genetics has not

been fully documentedbeen fully documented– Identifies suspected genetic defects for which Identifies suspected genetic defects for which

genetics is not fully documentedgenetics is not fully documented

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Current work in progress Current work in progress (cont.)(cont.)

Continued updating of the Phenotype LibraryContinued updating of the Phenotype Library

Evaluation of available data on the platinum Evaluation of available data on the platinum phenotype (anticipated completion in early 2010)phenotype (anticipated completion in early 2010)

Preliminary work on drafting a Judging Manual (no Preliminary work on drafting a Judging Manual (no release date established yet)release date established yet)

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What else does the Standards What else does the Standards Committee do?Committee do?

Fields questions from members and non-Fields questions from members and non-members asking for assistance in identifying the members asking for assistance in identifying the phenotypes of angelfish.phenotypes of angelfish.

Reviews materials for various purposes, such as Reviews materials for various purposes, such as reviewing presentations. Many of the monthly reviewing presentations. Many of the monthly meeting presentations have been developed by meeting presentations have been developed by Standards Committee members.Standards Committee members.

Fields questions from members and non-Fields questions from members and non-members on other angelfish related topics. members on other angelfish related topics. – Most recent was from a high school girl designing a Most recent was from a high school girl designing a

senior project to evaluate the effects of water depth on senior project to evaluate the effects of water depth on fin development.fin development.

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Who May Serve on the Who May Serve on the Standards Committee?Standards Committee?

The bylaws say: “It will consist of five The bylaws say: “It will consist of five members who are in good standing members who are in good standing with TAS” (Article VI, Section 1)with TAS” (Article VI, Section 1)

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What are the qualifications to What are the qualifications to serve on the committee?serve on the committee?

The bylaws don’t specify any qualifications. But The bylaws don’t specify any qualifications. But here are some common sense ones that I would here are some common sense ones that I would look for in a candidate:look for in a candidate: Has experience keeping and raising angelfishHas experience keeping and raising angelfish Is be able to evaluate the quality of the physical Is be able to evaluate the quality of the physical

characteristics of an angelfish, and have the ability characteristics of an angelfish, and have the ability to identify defectsto identify defects

Knows how to identify common phenotypesKnows how to identify common phenotypes Has a basic understanding of geneticsHas a basic understanding of genetics Has a basic understanding of the scientific methodHas a basic understanding of the scientific method Willing to learn!Willing to learn! Willing to devote some time to doing committee Willing to devote some time to doing committee

work!!!!!work!!!!!

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December 2009 Elections and December 2009 Elections and YouYou

If you believe you can contribute on this If you believe you can contribute on this committee, please consider running for a committee, please consider running for a position.position.

If you know of someone you believe to be If you know of someone you believe to be qualified, please encourage that person to run, qualified, please encourage that person to run, and come to the December Business Meeting to and come to the December Business Meeting to nominate that person.nominate that person.

Vote in the December election for the people you Vote in the December election for the people you believe will do the best job on the Standards believe will do the best job on the Standards Committee. Committee.

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The EndThe End