As we all know, currently the way to change stats would be to use a mutagen. When pets are born, stats are predetermined.

My suggestion is to offer some variance. Stats not to be so predetermined. When pets explore islands and come across exploring gene, it gives you the possiblility of improving a stat (as well as diminishing a stat), just as a mutagen would do.

This allows for some "mystery" to the game. Giving pets with poor stats the random chance to improve itself (or risk it made worse). It adds another variable for all those pets tossed into the pound or "reserved" due to low stats. It would give a chance to take a pet that has excellent markings and improve upon it.

Personally, I like the aspect of suprise. The possibility of getting something worthwhile with a risk. I also like the idea taking the pets people would usually not find worthwhile and working with them. 

Thoughts?

Personally i don't support this idea, as I would not want my pets that i know have good genes (due to the stats, but are currently hidden) to suddenly have worse genes

Or for a rare coloured pet to suddenly turn to something much more common

No support. I prefer the system the way it is; especially when you can breed for genes; randomness of the genes when it comes to the gene building on the explore map would make breeding for genes difficult and would essentially mean I'd have to skip over those very useful building in case it changes one of those recessive genes I want.. Plus that function would essentially make a mutagen useless.

No support :/ Same reasons as DragonSage, they make a good point.