What gene caused THIS!

[katievictoria]

Hello. Hoping someone can help me. I've bred 10 does for 4-H. All are New Zealands, but can't say they are pure. Some have better lines than others. I bred a black NZ doe and a REW NZ doe both to a Black NZ buck. The black doe had a litter of 9. 7 were black and 2 REW. The REW doe had only 5. 4 were REW and only 1 black. They are now all 2 1/2 - 3 weeks old and something strange has happened. All the REW babies from both litters are showing little black spots on top of their tails, sort of shaded ears with light black edges, and some dark coloring also on their noses. I know there is a gene (or modifier) that is temperature sensitive and affects the "points" but can't remember what it is and how it works exactly. Could this be the problem? But if so, why do they all still have red eyes. Shouldn't the albinoism have gotten rid of ALL coloring?

Thanks.......Vicki

 

[Zass]

It's Himalayan coat pattern, most likely from a Californian ancestor
(the red eyes are normal and to be expected with that gene.)
It's on the same locus as rew, but dominant to that gene, so I think it must be carried by the black buck. It's possible for any of the blacks to be carrying an invisible copy, because even though himi is dominant to rew, it's still recessive to full color..

The rews cannot carry it, but they can throw it if crossed to a carrier.

 

[Dood]

:yeahthat:

The black buck carries the himilayan gene, likely from a Californian relative

 

[katievictoria]

Thank you Zass and Dood. I appreciate your quick replies. Well now I know a little more about my black buck. And I'll know what to look out for in the future. I had originally planned to breed my REW doe to my REW buck. But this was his first year breeding, and a couple of aggressive does had worn him out and had him scared for a couple of days. Not wanting to miss the necessary time frame for 4-H I just bred her to the black one instead, wondering what I might come up with. Now I'm actually glad I bred him to two does so I'm fairly sure (as you both point out) that this trait probably comes from him. Thanks again!

 

[Susie570]

Coat patterns sound pretty though!

 

[katievictoria]

OK, I have another question concerning this situation. If my buck is carrying the himilayan gene (which is somewhere on the C locust), and it also carries the albino "c" due to it throwing albinos, but it's a black buck, which should suggest a dominant "C" gene (right?), how can all those c genes be present in the same rabbit. Also, how would I write a genotype for that?

 

[Dood]

Your buck does not carry the "c" gene since all the kits you thought were REW have himilayan markings - he is full colour and himi = "C ch"

Himalayans also have red/ruby/pink eyes like albino / REW's

 

[Zass]

:yeahthat:

 

[katievictoria]

Ok I got it now. Thanks for straightening me out! Now I understand!