Tyrosinase for Dummies:

I consider myself one so, before you get all bent out of shape, I AM the DUMMY to which I refer. Anyone wanna argue that point? OK, So since we all agree on that one, I will make my logical if not completely scientific observations.

When the first "T-Positive" Argentine Boas appeared more than about ten years ago now, they were shortly known to be a simple recessive trait but were not called "T-Positive" Albinos as they are called today. They were called what I logically thought they were, not being scientifically savvy, Argentine Hypos. Simple recessive Hypos. Hypomelanism in every Reptile that I am aware except Boa Constrictors has always been a simple recessive trait. It doesn't matter if there are additional exceptions to that or not, the fact is in nearly every instance Hypos are Homozygous forms of a simple recessive mutation. So when the Hypo Boas first appeared, it took a little different thinking to let it all sink in. It has certainly made it's way into the main stream reptile knowledge base today.

It was only around eight or ten years ago that these simple recessive Hypo Argentines became known as "T-Positive Albinos". So what was a "T-Positive Albino" I asked. I asked around and here is the basic, although apparently scientifically inaccurate definitions of the two types of Albinos:

"T-Negative Albinos": In T-Negative Albinos, all production of melanin is interrupted completely resulting is an Albino devoid of any black influence whatsoever.

"T-Positive Albinos": In T-Positive Albinos, part of the production of melanin is interrupted resulting is an Albino that still retains some level of melanin influence.

Those are the simple definitions I had believed, and since I am pretty simple minded, that was easy for me to comprehend. Inaccurate though it may be, that is what I thought.

So now we find that the "true" Albinos we have always assumed were T-Negative Albinos are not necessarily so. The visa versa is true of what we thought were T-Positive Albinos heretofore. So what in the world is a simpleton like me supposed to believe, know or even think? Well this is what I think. This is only what I think and since I am an admitted simpleton, don't believe it OK?

So if we are going to go with the technically correct definitions, then we don't know what any of these animals are. There isn't any way everyone is going to drop what they have always thought was true regardless of the accuracy of it. So people will call them what they will and some will continue to argue because it isn't technically correct. I am all for being scientifically accurate by the way, but we just don't know what most of this stuff is or isn't scientifically. So what are we going to do? I have to get my little brain around something to have an accurate understanding of anything. That is often a tall order as this one is here and now.

So for me and my little brain, it's back to basics. I am back to believing what I had believed for more years before the "T-Positive" name had been tossed around like cord wood. The "T-Positive" appearing animals may of may not actually be true "T-Positive" animals. But they are absolutely at the very least simple recessive Hypomelanistic Boas. There is the exception of the Paradigm Boas which is a horse all it's own. With that one exception, all the other animals, if in fact proven to be simple recessive as we know some are already, are simply at least simple recessive Hypos. That is simple enough for me to understand. The "T-Positive" Argentines were "Hypos" long before they became known as T-Positive. The change of name either direction has absolutely no impact on the unique desirability of the animal. So I will think of all the "T-Positive" appearing animals as simple recessive Hypos. Other can, will and should call their animals whatever they want to. In fact if the "T-Positive" moniker remains the norm for all the T-Positive appearing animals, I too will be calling them T-Positive. If the name "T-Positive Albinos" continues to be the norm, I'm going to stay with that too.

So while many of us know that scientifically or technically, the term "T-Positive Albino" is not necessarily accurate, we all know what we actually mean when we use that term. After all, we are not writing for a scientific journal. We are hobbyist talking shop in such a way that everyone understands what we are talking about. Which makes me wonder why I bothered to open my big mouth to begin with. I'm going to go contemplate that one now and if I come up with an answer, I'll post it later.
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