Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what are your thoughts on the boa woman caramels, do you believe they are a true tyrosinase positive animal? i would tend to lean toward yes, but the lack of red pupils has me scratching my head...but then again, the way they react with the sharp strain albino is another curve ball. what do you guys think? and is it only because the bwc and sharp genes lay on the same allele that they react, and other t positive strains do not react with the sharp stuff? thanks in advance...also, i have heard some think that the sharp is actually a t positive, thoughts on that???

Here are my opinions, for what they are worth.

1. Are boa woman caramels (BWC) true tyrosinase positive animals?

Definition of a true tyrosinase positive boa: A boa with a functional tyrosinase enzyme and either less than normal melanin (the black pigment) or no melanin.

A BWC has less than normal black pigment. A functional tyrosinase enzyme is required to produce any black pigment. Therefore, a BWC has functional tyrosinase. A BWC boa fits the definition of a true tyrosinase positive animal. Red eyes are irrelevant.

2. Do Sharp albino and BWC genes have the same location in the chromosomes?

I think so. That is the way I interpret the reported breeding patterns. Some people disagree, but I have not seen their data. To the best of my knowledge and belief, Sharp albino gene and T-positive mutant genes (other than BWC) have different locations in the chromosomes. There is a good chance that they reside in totally different chromosomes.

By the way, alleles are different genes that reside in the same location. The Sharp albino gene and BWC gene are alleles. The Sharp albino gene and the other T-positive genes are not alleles.

3. Is Sharp albino T-positive or T-negative?

It could be either. It takes a biochemical test to determine whether an albino is T-positive or T-negative. As far as I know, that test has not been done on either the Kahl albino or Sharp albino. Calling both T-negative is a guess, and probably an inaccurate guess. Both could be T-positive, but I w