The definitions of dominant, recessive, and codominant are man-made, for the ideal conditions. Like black and white. Nature does not have to abide by our black and white definitions but can color in shades of gray. I've seen this sort of thing in pied ringneck doves and white-striped fattail geckos. It's not real common, but it's not unheard of, either.

I'd still call leopard a recessive mutant but note that heterozygous individuals (with a leopard gene paired with a normal gene) can show variable expressivity.

Paul Hollander

[ Show Entire Thread ]