C-Locus (Color Saturation) |
C cchd cchl ch c |
Please excuse my dust while I revamp this section
This is one of the more complex gene sets. Not only does this set have dominant and recessive genes, but it also has genes with co-dominance and slight dominance, and even one gene that is affected by temperature. There are five different genes in this set: C, cchd, cchl, ch and c.
This series of genes will determine how full the color is in you rabbit. The most dominant gene in the set is the C, which will have your rabbit showing full color. On the opposite end of the spectrum the c gene will show a complete loss of color, or an albino. The c gene produces a REW or ruby eyed white, not a BEW or blue eyed white. There is another gene (V-vienna) that produces a blue eyed white.
The cchd and cchl genes have co-dominance. The cchd is known as the chinchilla gene, or chinchilla dark. The chinchilla gene will allow the production of some but not all of the color pigment in your rabbit. If your rabbit is an agouti, white bands will appear between the dark color bands. Usually it’s the yellow pigment that is reduced to white. This gene will also affect eye color and can produce rabbits with blue eyes. Cchd will make your chestnuts will turn chinchilla, for example.
The cchl is known as the sable gene, or chinchilla light. This gene is different than other genes, as it has what is called incomplete dominance. When you have a pair of sable genes cchl cchl the resulting color is not sable but rather a dark sepia color called seal. Seal is an almost black color. Like the cchd, this gene removes yellow from the hair shaft, and some darker pigmentation, leaving the rabbit with a shaded look. Unlike the chinchilla dark gene, this gene will leave the eye color dark.
The ch gene is known as the himi gene. Rabbits showing this gene are called pointed white, as the rabbit will be white except in the muzzle, ears, and feet. This gene is also temperature sensitive, and in colder temperatures, the color can actually be turned back on. This is why pointed rabbits will show color better in winter months. In some breeds this color is called Himalayan, and in some breeds this color is called Californian.
The c gene is known as the albino gene. It will eliminate the display of color in your rabbit. Because of its properties, this gene will affect every other gene set as well, as it will wash out whatever the A, B, D, & E genes specify. The only way for this gene to be expressed in your rabbit is if the rabbit has two c genes (cc).
This series of genes will determine how full the color is in you rabbit. The most dominant gene in the set is the C, which will have your rabbit showing full color. On the opposite end of the spectrum the c gene will show a complete loss of color, or an albino. The c gene produces a REW or ruby eyed white, not a BEW or blue eyed white. There is another gene (V-vienna) that produces a blue eyed white.
The cchd and cchl genes have co-dominance. The cchd is known as the chinchilla gene, or chinchilla dark. The chinchilla gene will allow the production of some but not all of the color pigment in your rabbit. If your rabbit is an agouti, white bands will appear between the dark color bands. Usually it’s the yellow pigment that is reduced to white. This gene will also affect eye color and can produce rabbits with blue eyes. Cchd will make your chestnuts will turn chinchilla, for example.
The cchl is known as the sable gene, or chinchilla light. This gene is different than other genes, as it has what is called incomplete dominance. When you have a pair of sable genes cchl cchl the resulting color is not sable but rather a dark sepia color called seal. Seal is an almost black color. Like the cchd, this gene removes yellow from the hair shaft, and some darker pigmentation, leaving the rabbit with a shaded look. Unlike the chinchilla dark gene, this gene will leave the eye color dark.
The ch gene is known as the himi gene. Rabbits showing this gene are called pointed white, as the rabbit will be white except in the muzzle, ears, and feet. This gene is also temperature sensitive, and in colder temperatures, the color can actually be turned back on. This is why pointed rabbits will show color better in winter months. In some breeds this color is called Himalayan, and in some breeds this color is called Californian.
The c gene is known as the albino gene. It will eliminate the display of color in your rabbit. Because of its properties, this gene will affect every other gene set as well, as it will wash out whatever the A, B, D, & E genes specify. The only way for this gene to be expressed in your rabbit is if the rabbit has two c genes (cc).