how can I know what phenotype my normal phase snakes have? When they have normal colour they can be RRBB; RrBb; RrBB; RRBb and when i mate them the babies would be different.
Thaks
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genetics
rome
Nov 07, 2006 04:44 AM
Replies (2)
Darin Chappell
Nov 07, 2006 09:25 AM
The "phenotype" of a snake is merely referring to the way in which the genetics of the animal are expressed physically. So your snake is a phenotypic normal.
The "genotype" refers to the genetics of the animal that may, or may not be expressed phenotypically. So, genotypically, your snake may be het for amelanism or anerythrism (or both...or neither), and there would be no way to know for sure from the phenotype alone.
I am unaware as to what you mean by the notations (RRBB, et. al.), but the only way to pove out the genotype of a normal snake is to beed it to known carriers of the genes in question. Even then, breeding to homozygous carriers is most poductive.
Hope that helps a bit...
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742
Paul Hollander
Nov 07, 2006 05:07 PM
The first place I remember seeing the Rr and Bb notations was in McEachern's booklet about corn snake colors and patterns that came out in the early 1990s. Amelanistic was r, and anerythristic was b, as I recall.
The b and r notation has been almost forgotten. Primarily because Bern Bechtel had previously published. His symbols were more in line with standard genetics symbolism and had priority.
Paul Hollander
