Chapter 11: Colour genetics Hair types Colour types and colour genes Colour genes and biochemical function Examples from different domestic animals

Hair types Physical texture Ratio between under fur and guard hair Strength and durability of the fur Winter pelt and summer pelt Hair types and genotypes Dominant Recessive Wire haired W- Straight haired ww Short haired L- Long haired ll Guard hair M- Mole mm Hair N- Hairless nn

Examples of hair types Wire haired Long hair Hairless Mole guard hair

Colour types in mammals and colour genes Melanin is the stain of the hair Eumelanin  black and brown Phaeomelanin  yellow and red Air bubbles  White Melanin is produced in a cell type, called melanocytes

Important colour loci in domestic animals Agouti locus: A-locus Brown locus: B-locus brown whelps Albino locus: C-locus Dilution locus: D-locus Extension locus: E-locus yellow whelps Pink eyed dilution locus: P-locus X-linked Orange locus: O-locus

Colour genes and biochemical function Part of the melanin synthesis (biochemical synthesis) Regulate melanin production (hormonal) Regulate the morphology of the melanocytes Regulate number of melanocytes The genes can be divided into the following groups:

Colour genes: biochemical function

Colour genes in Danish swine breeds Dominant Recessive Dominant white I- Coloured ii Black E- Red ee White belt B- Uniform bb Yorkshire LandraceHampshireDuroc

Colour genes in Danish cattle breeds Dominant Recessive Black E- Red ee Uniform S- Spotted ss White head H- Uniform hh Black & white Red Danish Hereford

Colour genes in the horse

Colour genes in the horse

Colour genes in the dog Dominant Recessive Black and tan a t - Red aa Black B- Brown bb Dark C- Light c ch c ch Black D- Silver dd Black E- Red (yellow)ee Uniform mm Merle M- Airedale Tibetan Labrador

Colour genes in mink Colour types, single Mutant name Mutant genotype Wild type, Standard WhiteAlbino, red eyedccCC Hedlund White, deaf hhHH GreyAleutian, bluishaaAA Silver Blue, greyppPP Steel Bluep sps PP BrownRoyal PastelbbBB MoylmmMM American Palomino kkKK BicolouredBlack CrossSsss

Colour genes in mink

Colour genes in cats

Colour genes in other species Sheep Rabbit Mouse