Posted by:
Rextiles
at Wed Jan 14 20:14:27 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Rextiles ]
By definition, Hypomelanistic is the reduction of, but not lack of black pigmentation whereas Albino is the complete reduction of black pigmentation.
What has been selling as Hypo hogs, Lazik line, shows no black pigmentation at all. So, I could agree that these indeed could be considered T Albinos instead of Hypo.
However, if the Toffeebelly's show black speckling that you state seems to increase with age/shedding, this obviously is a showing of melanin in the system. To me, it would seem more logical that these might possibly be considered true Hypos instead of any form of Albino let alone a paradox of some sort. And how would one be able to prove or isolate the paradox gene? Would you be able to isolate it by breeding one normal albino to a toffeebelly and produce all homo albinos that would be het for the paradox gene if it were recessive? Or if it were a co-dom trait, then half possibly might exhibit this paradox trait?
I believe I've read that there are a slight few species that exhibit inheritable paradox genetics such as Kenyan Sand Boas but it's my understanding that it's yet to be proven as an inheritable trait for Ball Pythons (as well as many other species) where several albinos have been obviously shown as unquestionable true paradox animals.
Not that I'm challenging anybody per se, I'm just trying to understand why it might be justified so far as to try and term these toffeebelly's as T Albino Paradox's without them having been actually proven as thus. In other words, has it actually been proven that this is exactly what they are and if not, is anybody working on breeding projects to try and isolate this purported paradox gene? 
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles
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RE: I'm interested in hearing your opinion - Rextiles, Wed Jan 14 20:14:27 2009