Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what is the outcome of that breeding?

Both the lesser parent and the pastel parent are heterozygous for their respective mutations. That is, the lesser has one mutant copy of the lesser gene paired with one normal for lesser copy. The pastel parent has one pastel copy of the pastel gene and one normal for pastel copy. Because these aren’t recessive mutations the heterozygous animals are visible mutations.

Breedings so far haven’t given an indication that lesser and pastel are not two independent gene locations. So the other parent is homozygous normal for the mutation it doesn't have (i.e. the pastel has two normal copies of the lesser gene and the lesser has two normal copies of the pastel gene).

So, each parent has a 50/50 chance of passing its one mutant allele to the offspring and the chances are independent. So with a random overlap of the two chances you end up with:

25% chance pastel lesser
25% chance lesser
25% chance pastel
25% chance normal

So 25% normal means that they wont get the gene not from the lesser and not from the pastel? Tottaly normal like breeding normal X normal?

Yes, when only working with dominant type (including co-dominant) mutations the normal looking animals are completely normal. The lesser has a normal copy of the lesser gene and the pastel has a normal copy of the pastel gene (since both are heterozygous for their respective mutations) so that 25% are the ones that get the normal versions of the respective genes from both parents.

Here's a pic of a pastel lesser girl I hatched this year. The aberrant stripe in pics 2+3 is from another clutch. She's at the bottom in pic 1, and on the left in pics 2+3.

Thanks,
Jim Shacochis

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Jim Shacochis