A-Locus (Agouti) |
Alleles: A, at, a |
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Please excuse my dust while I revamp this section
The Agouti ("A") gene set has three possible genes. They are list in order of dominance: A, at and a.
A: The A gene is the typical wild rabbit color pattern. Rabbits with this gene would have white bellies, white eye circles and white on the underside of the tail. The individual hairs on a rabbit possessing the A gene will have color bands. If you blow on the back of the rabbit you will see circular bands of color as a result of this gene. Common varieties of agouti are chestnut, chinchilla, red, cream, and fawn.
at: The at gene is known as the tan pattern. In order for this gene to display in the rabbit the second gene must either be an at or an a. If the second gene is an A (Agouti) the rabbit will carry the at but will show the A (agouti) since the A (Agouti) is dominant. The tan (at) gene has the same overall pattern as an Agouti. The belly will be white, the rabbit will have white eye circles, and the underside of the tail will be white. However, the individual hairs will not have color bands, but will be all one color. Common varieties of at/tan are otter and silver marten.
a: The a gene is known as the self gene. Since this is the most recessive gene, the rabbit must have two a’s in the gene set to show this pattern (aa). With this gene the rabbit will be one color throughout their body, and the individual hairs will be one color. Common self colors are black, blue, chocolate and lilac.
A: The A gene is the typical wild rabbit color pattern. Rabbits with this gene would have white bellies, white eye circles and white on the underside of the tail. The individual hairs on a rabbit possessing the A gene will have color bands. If you blow on the back of the rabbit you will see circular bands of color as a result of this gene. Common varieties of agouti are chestnut, chinchilla, red, cream, and fawn.
at: The at gene is known as the tan pattern. In order for this gene to display in the rabbit the second gene must either be an at or an a. If the second gene is an A (Agouti) the rabbit will carry the at but will show the A (agouti) since the A (Agouti) is dominant. The tan (at) gene has the same overall pattern as an Agouti. The belly will be white, the rabbit will have white eye circles, and the underside of the tail will be white. However, the individual hairs will not have color bands, but will be all one color. Common varieties of at/tan are otter and silver marten.
a: The a gene is known as the self gene. Since this is the most recessive gene, the rabbit must have two a’s in the gene set to show this pattern (aa). With this gene the rabbit will be one color throughout their body, and the individual hairs will be one color. Common self colors are black, blue, chocolate and lilac.
