>While I agree with most of what you posted, I not so sure I agree that there is NO chance that the Kahl and Sharp strains of albino are not both T-negative. There is obviously the possibility, but couldnt they just be alterations in different amino acids that are used to make up the tyrosinase enzyme?

In black rat snakes, there are two forms of albino. Both have been tested for tyrosinase activity. One is tyrosinase positive and the other is tyrosinase negative. Crossing the two produces normal-looking babies.

As far as I know, crossing Kahl and Sharp strains produces normal-looking babies. Does the parallel continue -- one boa albino tyrosinase positive and the other tyrosinase negative? I think that is very likely because I was taught that one gene contains the entire genetic information for an enzyme. The only variant tyrosinases that I know of are produced by alleles of the same gene. And if the Kahl and Sharp mutants were alleles, crossing the snakes would not produce normal-looking babies.

I'd be delighted if someone actually tested both strains of boa albinos for tyrosinase activity. We can spin hypotheses from here to breakfast, but only testing will settle it.

Paul Hollander

[ Show Entire Thread ]