A snow is both albino and anerythristic. Both mutant genes are recessive to their normal counterparts. In other words, to be a snow, the boa must have a pair of albino mutant genes and a pair of anerythristic mutant genes. And each parent must have at least one of each mutant gene.



Male parent:

1. Looks normal but is heterozygous albino, heterozygous anerythristic

2. albino, heterozygous anerythristic

3. anerythristic, heterozygous albino

4. albino anerythristic (snow)



Female parent:

1. Looks normal but is heterozygous albino, heterozygous anerythristic

2. albino, heterozygous anerythristic

3. anerythristic, heterozygous albino

4. albino anerythristic (snow)



Select any male from the male list above and any female from the female list above. They could produce a snow. Any other mating could not produce a snow. An anerythristic that is not heterozygous albino cannot produce a snow in the first generation even if it is mated to a snow. However, if that anerythristic is mated to one of the snakes listed above, snows could turn up in the second generation.



Paul Hollander

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