TinysMom
Well-Known Member
Since it is about 3:30 am - this won't be real indepth...but it is some basic information for beginners.
There are more than these 5 basic genes that go into rabbit genetics...for example, the vienna gene, how to get brokens, etc. etc.
These are just the five basic genes that we often talk about:
Here are a couple of links to help:
Rabbit Genetics
Understanding color genes
There are more than these 5 basic genes that go into rabbit genetics...for example, the vienna gene, how to get brokens, etc. etc.
These are just the five basic genes that we often talk about:
- The "A" gene - determines the "family" the rabbit is in
- "A" is dominant - it is the agouti gene that creates chinchillas, chestnut agouti, etc. This is the most dominant gene.
- "at" is the next in dominance. This is the tan family and it is where we get the martens, the otters and the tans. If your rabbit is one of these - you know for sure that it does not carry the "A" agouti gene.
- The final gene is the "a" gene which is the self gene. This is where you get your blacks/blues/chocolates and lilacs.
- Every rabbit carries two genes in the "A" spot. They will show the dominant gene but it is possible that they have a different gene in the second spot. For instance -an agouti rabbit could be an "A", "A" - or an "A", "at" - or an "A","a'". If this agouti rabbit was the last one and bred to a self rabbit (black for instance) - then the babies could turn out to be solid black because the agouti is "A", "a" and the other parent is "a", "a".
- The "B" gene determines whether a rabbit is black or brown.
- "B" is the black rabbit. (This also includes rabbits like torts, etc. because the shading may not allow them to show the black..but genetically they carry the black gene).
- "b" is the chocolate rabbit. In order for a rabbit to be chocolate (or lilac which will be covered later) it must be "b, b" in its genetic lineup since the chocolate is a recessive gene.
- The "D" gene determines the density of the coat color. We also talk about this when we talk about "dilutes".
- "D" means that the rabbit shows its full color. A black rabbit will be black (if it is a self rabbit - meaning an "a" rabbit). A chocolate rabbit will be chocolate.
- "d" means that the color is diluted. A black rabbit that has TWO "d" genes - will not be black - but blue. A chocolate rabbit that has TWO "d" genes will be lilac.
- A black rabbit can be "D, d" in its genetics and throw blue babies if bred to another rabbit that is either "D,d" or "d,d". However - the rabbit will look black even though it carries the genes to throw blue.
- A chocolate rabbit is the same as above - it can look chocolate and throw lilacs if it is bred to another rabbit that carries the dilute gene.
- SPECIAL NOTE: A black rabbit that does not carry chocolate but throws blues - can NOT throw a chocolate or lilac baby even though it carries the dilute gene. It is limited to the black/blue gene pool.
Here are a couple of links to help:
Rabbit Genetics
Understanding color genes