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Post by paperdoves on Aug 12, 2014 10:24:02 GMT -8
If I have a pair of gerbils, one of whom is black and the other spotted black, and if they have a litter of 5 babies (two black, two spotted black and one dove or sapphire) is there any way to extrapolate from those facts what other potential colors any future babies could be?
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Post by Shooting Star on Aug 12, 2014 18:14:06 GMT -8
From what you know, you'll just get Black and Lilac/Sapphire/Dove, with and without spotting.
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Post by betty on Aug 12, 2014 21:46:23 GMT -8
Sometimes the first litter doesn't 'show' all the genes that are available from the parents, so by your second litter you could probably narrow it down a lot better as everything has had a chance to come out, but yes, as above, only the Black and the 'Silvers' are guaranteed.
The parents are most likely: aa Cc E* Pp U* and aa Cc E* Pp U* - with the * as 'still to be determined' and the c as either c(h) - if Dove; or c(chm) - if Sapphire. The spotting can affect the colour and make it paler too so telling them apart isn't easy the first few times you see them.
And also, single recessive genes in one gerbil might not be known (unless they are from the c range and lighten the coat or you are a very experienced breeder). I had a PEW and a CP Slate who showed no ee pups - but their daughter had loads - so one parent was definitely carrying a single e but I would never have know from their own breeding. But if you plan to breed seriously you can sometimes identify all their genes through their children.
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Post by paperdoves on Aug 16, 2014 16:59:20 GMT -8
Thank you for your replies, that was very helpful to me. I don't plan to breed seriously, but am always curious about things.
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