HGG Community Forums

Sankt wendel · May 16, 2014 3:44 PM

Is there really a gene that determines whether a horse will be able to produce pigment (any pigment) - CC/Cc - or not able to produce any pigment - cc - resulting in a white horse, yet different from the dominant white?

Let me translate this part of a lecture about equine color genetics:
"Gene C (color): determines melanic pigments (melanin synthesis);
A cc genotype determines a horse unable to produce melanic pigments (albino) due to tyrosinase deficiency. Such horses are not the same as Dominant White (W gene)."

Ammit · May 16, 2014 4:06 PM

This person is trying to describe the cream gene and doing a very poor job of it and messing up. ALL color genes code for pigment production that is the definition of a color gene. There is no white horse gene and homozygous cream horses are just blond with blue eyes. That would be like calling half the population of Scandinavia albinos.

Sankt wendel · May 16, 2014 4:43 PM

Thank you so much. It is alarming the number of people by here who are referring colored horses as having this "C gene". The most disturbing to me is that unfortunately in my country, many breeders, veterinarians and students tend to accept what they are told, without questioning. Just because it was told by a holder of some title who very often, although working on Genetics, doesn't work with equine genetics itself. For example, last year I attended a lecture about equine color genetics where the lecturer was PhD in Genetics - of aquatic organisms. :((

Members log in here:
Username:
Password:
By hitting the above you signify that you agree with our rules and conditions.
Forgot your password?

HGG Community Forums

Join our discord server!

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Who's Online (3)

Join our discord server!

Enlarge Your Pastures

Reminders!

Vacation GT Sale!