Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I understand a lot about genetics and understand what... say... a ghost is, but what is a super ghost?

"Super" is slang used to describe a homozygous specimen of a dominant trait.

Using the ghost example, it would be...
Ghost = one hypo gene and two anery genes
Super Ghost = two hypo genes and two anery genes
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Is that because the Hypo gene is co-dominant, so hypo would show up if it was either het or homozygous?

So is there a visual difference?

Hypo is dominant, in a mixed hypo litter there are only two possible phenotypes, normal and hypo. It's classified as dominant since there is not a clear difference between the homozygous and heterozygous animals.

One example of a true Co-dominant is Motley. In a mixed motley litter there are three possible phenotypes, normal, motley and super motley. Since there is a clear difference between the Motleys and Super Motleys it is classified as Co-Dominant.

Remember, phenotype refers to how the animal looks while genotype refers to the actual genes even though some may not be visible.

Mostly animals are described by genotype, DH snow for example.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

So is there a phenotopic difference between ghosts and super ghosts?

depending on who you ask or what you believe. some people believe that there is no way of distinguishing hypo from super hypo based on appearance. others believe that the animals with less black pigment are more likely to be homozygous hypos but still have to be proven through breeding trials. Your answer lies upon which side you take

IMO, some can be identified as probables while others are possibles and likely not. It's not black and white and definitley subject to interpretation. But since you can't clearly sort the hypos into two groups, they are considered only dominant. Not that the savvy buyer can't pick out a super from a group of possibles, just can't reliably pick them all out.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I took genetics in college and understand the principles and calculations, but it's kinda tough to keep straight what traits are dominant vs. co-dominant etc... not to mention I have no idea how reliable my sources are for learning this stuff in the first place. So anyway, thanks! I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future!

>>One example of a true Co-dominant is Motley. In a mixed motley litter there are three possible phenotypes, normal, motley and super motley. Since there is a clear difference between the Motleys and Super Motleys it is classified as Co-Dominant.

And that's why I feel the Super Motley should be given a different designation, as well as all other Co-Dom traits.

The term Super should be reserved for known Dominant traits such as Hypo, Arabesque, Etc...

As a group of hobbists we should go back to the producer of the first Super Motley (Jeremy Stone) and allow him to re-name the trait.

Of course we would also have to allow Lars Brandle to re-name the Super Jungle, Bob Potts re-name the Super Aztec, and possible Jorn Pelkofer to re-name the Super Marron-Pastel.

Just a thought....
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.0 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.1 Red Bearded Dragon's
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child