split penis-- genetics

[squidpop]

I believe I have a rabbit with a split penis (its split at the tip but doesn't go very far down at all).

My question is- is the gene that causes a split penis dominant or recessive? Does this rabbit carry two genes for split penis- meaning he would definately pass the gene to all his offspring- 100%. Or, does he have only one gene for a split penis and therefore would only pass the gene to half his offspring 50%?

This question is mostly hypothetical- he has been bred once, probably will not breed again. I kept one of his female babies and was thinking I might breed her- so I am wondering if there is a 50% chance she didn't inherit it. Also, a breeder wants to buy him even though I told her he has a split penis- she doesn't care because he's a blue eyed white cashmere mini lop and she can't find another one- and she thinks she can breed it out. I probably won't sell him though.

 

[Cottie]

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f20/split- ... ndex2.html

This is saying in humans it's x-linked, so if that's true for rabbits any daughters from that buck could be carriers. 100% carriers, if it is x-linked, since he has only one x chromosome to offer.

 

[skysthelimit]

That's the belief. Which means you can keep any male from a litter that does not display it. If he had the gene, it would show.

However, any doe you keep would be a carrier, and you would not know by looking.

I culled the doe, and the entire litter, because that's a DQ for me on the table.

If you are not showing, it won't make a difference, and the buck possibly still can breed.

 

[squidpop]

So if the daughter was bred and one of her son's did not have a split penis- that would mean he isn't hiding the gene because- it would be showing?

 

[Peach]

Apparently only females can carry the gene.....Males can't.

So say you breed your non split buck to your split carrier doe.... You will get doe carriers, split bucks, and then normal bucks (non carrier)

Supposedly.

Some people still think that normal bucks can carry the gene.

So, it comes down to if you are going to just completely eradicate the line or not. If you kept back normal bucks, would you ever feel ok selling them to people and possibly having crop up with their rabbits.

Food for thought. It comes down to the individual. Some people swear that normal bucks can't carry it and some breeders say yes they can.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

While hypospadias CAN be genetic...it can also be a random oops during development. So unless you start to see it crop up in specific bloodlines, I would hesitate to call it a genetic defect...given how much our bodies change from conception to adulthood, it's a wonder things don't go wrong MORE often than they do, LOL!!!

 

[Cottie]

While hypospadias CAN be genetic...it can also be a random oops during development. So unless you start to see it crop up in specific bloodlines, I would hesitate to call it a genetic defect...given how much our bodies change from conception to adulthood, it's a wonder things don't go wrong MORE often than they do, LOL!!!

It's probably a genetic factor more than a strict genetic equation. You can breed a non-split buck to 2 different does (from non-split fathers) and end up with split bucks in both litters. There's got to be some kind of expression going on in the genome - a kind of perfect storm of environment and chromosomes.

 

[squidpop]

I may never breed this doe- she is kind of a back up plan and not part of may master plan. If I do breed her though any babies will surely go to pet homes and I'll tell them why they are pet only for sale as pets so they know. Its interesting though, there seems to be only one line of BEW minilops in New Zealand all coming from the same two breeders - so I bet if mine has it they all do.

 

[Honorine]

Yup you can keep unaffected bucks from such a cross, but never a doe. If a buck has it its going to show. I've been told that its not carried in the normal manner, that technically the affected does have the defect, we just can't see it because they don't have a penis. Pain in the butt, but still a workable situation if you need the gene pool.

 

[squidpop]

At least its not a Malocclusion, that would be ten times worse than a split penis.

 

[dragonladyleanne]

I'm confused (so what else is new), I thought a split penis meant the buck could NOT be bred. If he CAN be successfully bred, what is the problem with a split penis?

 

[Sinnfox]

I'm confused (so what else is new), I thought a split penis meant the buck could NOT be bred. If he CAN be successfully bred, what is the problem with a split penis?

I think it is that the more it is bred in the more sever the split can become until it does make them unbreedable. I know the buck I bought with it couldn't breed if he wanted to thanks to how bad his is, but he is a pet so

 

[skysthelimit]

I'm confused (so what else is new), I thought a split penis meant the buck could NOT be bred. If he CAN be successfully bred, what is the problem with a split penis?

Should not, but physically sometimes they can. But it's a show defect more than anything, like Monorchism.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Depending on the degree of hypospadias, the opening of the urethra can be vastly deviated or only slightly deviated. If it's a minor degree of defect, they can still breed.

 

[squidpop]

My rabbit's is only at the tip. If it goes further down it can make penis curl they say. Here's a picture of a split penis on this site- but its much much worse than my buck's-
http://keepsrabbitry.blogspot.co.nz/200 ... penis.html

 

[ilovehome]

I was preparing my best litter of elops for selling today, and noticed that one of the bucks appears to have a split penis. Turns out I don't have 3 bucks and 4 does...I have 5 bucks, 3 with split penis, and 2 does. :x This was the bucks first breeding, and the does 2nd litter. She had 2 bucks in the first litter, but neither had a split penis as far as I know. The 3 bucks with it in this litter will obviously be dispatched. Would you dispatch the 2 does also as carriers? What about the 2 normal bucks? Obviously, I won't be rebreeding these two, but you would dispatch them also or test breed them with others first? Looking for recommendations from those who have been breeding for a while or who have experience with this.

 

[TwoAcreDream]

Sorry...had to edit.

 

[akane]

Most likely it is not a basic dominant or recessive gene pair. It is probably a complicated mix of genes and modifiers. I've heard of some lines constantly throwing split penis on the bucks and then I had a buck and doe that produced 1 split penis and never again even when the breeding was repeated several times. It's hard to say what will happen and what should be done since it's not a well researched area of genetics. You would probably have to test breed and see if the line carries the right combination of things to make split penis repeatedly or if you never see another one.