Clones don't lose vigor, Growers do...
Really folks, 99% of the growers on these forums don't have any growing skills whatsoever - stop blaming genetics, bugs, virus's, whatever - it's Grower Error.
I know that this statement has pissed off a couple of people, but I want to say this much about when I'm dealing with a problem. I start with ME and examine what it is I've been doing or not doing to meet the organism's needs.
But, I think your percentages are way, way off. I know too many people personally who are here (as well as other sites) and have seen what they do, and, much more importantly, have been taught a great deal by them. I feel they know what they're doing and have fantastic growing skills. JMO, of course.
Part of having 'growing skills' is knowing about the life cycle of the plants you're trying to grow. Like what happens when you clone across many generations. Assuming you know everything important about plant biology makes you a shitty horticulturist, regardless of what you're producing.
On a more positive note, I've got a meeting scheduled with a doctoral candidate in botany this week. Asking about genetic degradation is at the top of my agenda, and I'll post whatever I learn in this thread.
I'm here to learn and help others as best I can. I look forward to reading what you bring back to us. :)
I have a friend who's a chem prof and researcher at UCSC, searching for the origins of life through hammerhead RNA (or something like that), I'll have to see if he'll answer this query because I'm sure he's got a clue.