[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote
>Hello,
> I've been wondering something about the Cch gene in gerbils..I know it
>dilutes Lilac to Dove and Argente Golden to Argente Cream...but why doesn't
>it Dilute a Cch Black? Or a Cch Golden Agouti? I own a Cch Black and have
>owned Cch Golden agouti and haven't seen anything that woul show that their
>coat color is diluted.
>
>Jessi
This is because of the way that c[h] and pp interact. c[h] and ee also
are lighter.
This is not completely understood but it probably results from the two
genes being part of related pigment producing processes.
So unless there are two copies of C available the amount of the
necessary protein produced is not enough to produce full colour.
There is some evidence that many other genes produce small but not
normally significant changes to colour. For example, Argente Goldens
with g (A-CCE-Ggpp) do not do as well at UK shows because they are not
as bright. Conversely, Golden Agoutis with e (A-CCEeG-P-) are definitely
brighter than normal. You would not normally see this but it if you are
comparing many gerbils on a judging bench you will notice these sort of
minor differences.
--
Julian
************************************************************************
* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
************************************************************************
