Basics of Color Genetics in Rabbits....
Color genetics is very interesting and fun to learn...it is also beneficial when breeding to help avoid unshowable colors. There are many aspects of color genetics but we will go over the basic and most common.
PLEASE note: while colors are fun and who doesn't love a little color in the nestbox...remember to first breed for the Standard of Perfection and TYPE, TYPE and more TYPE! A friend and mentor once share with me what a judge told her many years ago..."Build your barn, then paint the walls". Get that type down and then introduce color to your herd.
Below is basic color info...for a list of colors and their genotype...visit List of the known rabbit gene groups and their alleles by Amy Hinkle...I also love the photos of kits and color info at Green Barn Farm
Genotype: the genetic makeup...what it is genetically
Phenotype: what you see, or the “expression of genes”
A kit will inherit two alleles...one from sire and one from dam. There are five groups (genes) of two alleles each. These groups (genes) are labeled as A, B, C, D, and E...There are other variations but for the basics...these are it.
Agouti - "A" gene
"A" gene is most dominant and can not be hidden by recessive genes.
Chestnuts, Opals, Chinchilla, Squirrels, Lynx, Orange*...
Agouti will have white eye circles, white bellies and inside of ears and when you blow into their coats, rings will appear.
Tan - "at"
"at" is recessive to Agouti "A" gene but dominant over self.
Otters & Martens
Solid color, has tan, fawn, or white eye circles, belly, and triangles on the back of the neck and under the chin
Self - "a"
"a" is the most recessive and can not hide other genes.
Black, blue, chocolate, lilac...
One solid color throughout.
"Black" and "chocolate" genes
B - dominant
when paired with Agouti gene, it creates a black band like in a chestnut,
when paired with the self gene, it will give you one solid color , like black.
"b" - recessive
known as the chocolate gene.
when paired with self, it will give you chocolate in stead of black.
C - color gene
"C" - Full color
PLEASE note: while colors are fun and who doesn't love a little color in the nestbox...remember to first breed for the Standard of Perfection and TYPE, TYPE and more TYPE! A friend and mentor once share with me what a judge told her many years ago..."Build your barn, then paint the walls". Get that type down and then introduce color to your herd.
Below is basic color info...for a list of colors and their genotype...visit List of the known rabbit gene groups and their alleles by Amy Hinkle...I also love the photos of kits and color info at Green Barn Farm
Genotype: the genetic makeup...what it is genetically
Phenotype: what you see, or the “expression of genes”
A kit will inherit two alleles...one from sire and one from dam. There are five groups (genes) of two alleles each. These groups (genes) are labeled as A, B, C, D, and E...There are other variations but for the basics...these are it.
Agouti - "A" gene
"A" gene is most dominant and can not be hidden by recessive genes.
Chestnuts, Opals, Chinchilla, Squirrels, Lynx, Orange*...
Agouti will have white eye circles, white bellies and inside of ears and when you blow into their coats, rings will appear.
Tan - "at"
"at" is recessive to Agouti "A" gene but dominant over self.
Otters & Martens
Solid color, has tan, fawn, or white eye circles, belly, and triangles on the back of the neck and under the chin
Self - "a"
"a" is the most recessive and can not hide other genes.
Black, blue, chocolate, lilac...
One solid color throughout.
"Black" and "chocolate" genes
B - dominant
when paired with Agouti gene, it creates a black band like in a chestnut,
when paired with the self gene, it will give you one solid color , like black.
"b" - recessive
known as the chocolate gene.
when paired with self, it will give you chocolate in stead of black.
C - color gene
"C" - Full color
(c) 2014 Boxwood Acres
