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A Summary of Rabbit Color Genetics
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Summary:
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Fundamental Pigments: Black & Yellow (red)
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All
genes come in pairs. If both genes of a pair are the same,
it is
said to be homozygous for that trait.
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Genotype refers to the gene itself, while phenotype
refers to
what we can see. Sometimes a phenotype will imply a
certain
combination of genes but the actual genotype is different.
The best way to discover an animal's genotype is through test
breeding with an animal whose genotype is known.
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Gene Labels:
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There
are 5 main groups of color genes, each controlling a different
aspect of the color and markings. The genes within each group are
listed in decreasing order of dominance. A Capital letter denotes a
dominant gene.
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PATTERNS [A / at / a ]:
Agouti is
the basic "wild" color. Hairs on different parts of the body are
colored differently, but will have three-five different colored
bands on each hair. This pattern looks different on a Rex because of
the shorter hairs. The bands are smaller and the colors appear more
intense.
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A = Agouti ["wild" color; multi-banded hair shaft]
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at = Tan [giving tan or "otter" markings]
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a = Self [solid color]
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COLOR:
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B =
Black
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b =
Chocolate
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SHADING:
[Controls
the amount of pigment in the hair; relative
amounts shown as units
of black 'B' and yellow( or red) 'Y' color.
Imagine
that the total amount of pigment in hair is the same for
all hairs.
As a result, shorter hairs appear darker (and also why
long-haired
varieties look faded). This explains the shading pattern found in
seals, sables, torts, and the pointed colors.]
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C = Normal [BBBBYYY]
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cchd = Dark Chinchilla [BBBBY--]
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cchl = Light Chinchilla [ shaded : seal & sable] [BB-----]
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ch = Himalayan [BB-----]
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c = White [Albino : absence of color] [-------]
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DILUTION:
[Controls
the "intensity" of the color:
a diluted black is a blue,
and a diluted brown is a lilac]
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D = Full Strength
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d = Diluted
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EXTENSION:
[Controls the presence, and extent of black on tips
of hair and in
under color]
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Ed
= Dominant
[ not accepted in REX]
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Es
= Steel
[ not accepted in REX; causes the black on the hair to
be extended, often covering the middle band with dark. For a
picture of a steel castor, see "Dazzle"]
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E
= Normal
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ej
= Japanese
[ not accepted in REX [excpet for tri-color];
responsible for harlequin patterns]
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e
= Non-Extension [necessary for Red]
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WHITE MARKINGS:
(called
"broken")
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En
= Broken Pattern
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en
= Self [Normal]
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{there are others but they are not significant in Rex}
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White markings fall into 3 categories:
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enen = solid colored; no white
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Enen = Broken, usually 10-90% color
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EnEn = "Charlie", usually < 10% color, typically around the
eyes,
ears, and down the center back
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