Maybe some deer eat more then others, once again, genetics does not play a role in antler developement.

BTW in your quotes above, I see alot of the word, MAYBE and PROBABLY, but not a DEFINATLEY.
quote:

Very interesting read, this guy studies antler growth, and has scientifically shown what protiens and chemicals make them grow the fastest.
Once again, it has nothing to do with genetics

ConclusionsThe structure and properties of antlers have been well studied,but our understanding of the biochemical and physiologicalmechanisms involved in antler growth is still unclear. Some ofthe as yet unanswered questions are:1. How has the antler mechanism evolved? ie. How does itcommit suicide by withdrawing blood supply, cast off the antlerand re-grow it the next year?2. How does the scalp transform to velvet skin as the first antlersdevelop?3. When the antler is cast off, how and why do pedicel stumpsgive rise to antler buds instead of scar tissue?4. How is it that tropical deer generate antlers any time of theThe structure andproperties ofantlers have beenwell studied, butour understandingof the biochemicaland physiologicalmechanismsinvolved in antlergrowth is stillunclear.
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63RESONANCE July 2004GENERAL ARTICLEyear whereas antler growth is linked to day-length in the temper-ate zones?5. How does calcification occur at such a fast pace in antlers?6. What is the connection between collagen type(s) present andmineralization at various stages of antler growth?7. How does environmental quality affect antler evolution apartfrom sexual selection?An understanding of the various mechanisms involved in antlergrowth is worth pursuing for its own sake, and also for thepossible benefits in understanding bone pathologies.Suggested Reading[1] W Modell, Horns and Antlers, Scientific American, Vol. 220, No.4,pp.114-122. 1969.[2] M Krishnan, An ecological survey of the larger mammals of peninsularIndia, Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 69, No.3,pp.469-501, 1973.[3] A Rajaram and N Ramanathan, Tensile Properties of Antler Bone,Calcified Tissue International, Vol. 34, pp. 301-305, 1982.[4] R V Krstic, General Histology of the Mammal, Springer-Verlag, pp. 186-217, 1984.[5] S H Prater, The Book of Indian Animals, pp. 274-297, Bombay NaturalHistory Society, 1991.[6] G J Rockledge, G Milne, K J Boss, C Furquharson, and S P Robins, Deerantler does not represent a typical endochondral growth system, Com-parative Biochemistry and Physiology, Vol. 118, B(2), pp. 303-308, 1997.[7] C Groves, Taxonomy of the ungulates of the Indian subcontinent,Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 100, Nos.2&3, pp.341-362, 2003.(Many of the above articles, especially post 1995, are freely downloadablefrom the Internet)Address for CorrespondenceA RajaramBiophysics Lab, CLRI, Adyar,Chennai 600020, India.Email: [email protected]