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A Summary of Rabbit Color Genetics
 

 
Summary:
Fundamental Pigments: Black & Yellow (red)

 
All genes come in pairs. If both genes of a pair are the same,
it is said to be homozygous for that trait.

 
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.

 
Gene Labels:
 
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.

 
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.
 
A = Agouti ["wild" color; multi-banded hair shaft]
 
at = Tan [giving tan or "otter" markings]
 
a = Self [solid color]

 
COLOR:
B = Black
 
b = Chocolate
 

 
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.]


 
C = Normal [BBBBYYY]
 
cchd = Dark Chinchilla [BBBBY--]
 
cchl = Light Chinchilla [ shaded : seal & sable] [BB-----]
 
ch = Himalayan [BB-----]
 
c = White [Albino : absence of color] [-------]

 
DILUTION: [Controls the "intensity" of the color:
a diluted
black is a blue, and a diluted brown is a lilac]
 
D = Full Strength
 
d = Diluted

 
EXTENSION: [Controls the presence, and extent of black on tips
 of hair and in under color]

 
Ed = Dominant [ not accepted in REX]
 
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"]
 
E = Normal
 
ej = Japanese [ not accepted in REX [excpet for tri-color]; responsible for harlequin patterns]
 
e = Non-Extension [necessary for Red]

 
WHITE MARKINGS: (called "broken")
 
En = Broken Pattern
 
en = Self [Normal]
 
{there are others but they are not significant in Rex}

 
White markings fall into 3 categories:
 
enen = solid colored; no white
 
Enen = Broken, usually 10-90% color
 
EnEn = "Charlie", usually < 10% color, typically around the eyes,
 ears, and down the center back
 

 

 
     
 
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