Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2015 13:26:12 GMT -5
We won't get too in-depth here, but for those curious how it works, we will explain the basics of equine coat colors.
"E" Gene - Extension Gene - Red vs. Black
Assuming a horse is neither white nor gray, this is the first gene that determines coat color. The "E" gene determines whether or not there is black pigment in the hair (E) and/or the skin (e).
"A" Gene - Agouti Gene - Location of Black (if any)
This gene modifies the Extension gene by determining where the black hair is distributed: either all over the horse's body (a) or only in points (A). There is also the possibility of the Agouti gene poorly restricting the black hair to the points, denoted by At.
Base Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or AAt or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
Seal Brown - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AtAt or Ata
"W" Gene - Dominant White gene
Though most "white" horses are actual light grays, there are "real whites" otherwise known as "Dominant Whites"; these horses lack the ability to form pigment in their hair or skin, resulting in a horse with pink skin, white hair, and either brown or blue eyes.
"G" Gene - Gray gene
Many horses that appear white are actually genetically gray; however, as this gene does not affect the pigment or the skin or eyes, they are distinguishable from whites by their dark skin and eyes. Born colored at birth (by whatever their other genetic coat colors are), the horse will slowly turn gray with age; this usually starts on the head - around the eyes and muzzle - as well as around the flank. At certain stages changing grays can be mistaken for roans, due to the mix of gray hairs with colored hairs.
The first true stage of turning color is often referred to as iron, steel, or rose gray, where the darker base coat is lightened by the early effects of gray hairs. The next stage - perhaps the most widely known though also a stage that is skipped by many - is the color referred to as dapple gray; these horses have a dark gray coat mixed with lighter "dapples" or rings. The last stage is flea-bitten gray where the horse's base coat will either appear pure white or "flea-bitten", which consists of a white base with red speckles or "freckles". Flea-bitten markings generally only appear on heterozygous (Gg) grays.
Masked Coat Colors:
White (carries black gene) - Ww, gg, ee, aa
Gray (born Bay) - ww, Gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Gray - ww, GG or Gg, may have any combination of other colors; the horse will be born its base coat color and turn gray as it ages.
White - Ww, may have any combination of other colors; the horse will always appear white and unless the genetics of said horse are known it will be impossible to tell what other color genes it has.
From this point forward, assume all coat colors are homozygous recessive for both white and gray (ww, gg). Only the base coat color and relevant modifier(s) will be listed for the sake of clairty; any gene not listed for a particular color should be assumed homozygous recessive.
"C" Gene - Cream - Pigment Dilution
This gene dilutes the pigments of the base coat: when only one copy of the gene is present, red pigment is diluted to yellow and black pigment remains unaffected. When two copies are present, the skin is diluted to a pink color, the hair diluted to very pale cream, and the eyes are diluted to blue.
Cream-diluted colors:
Chestnut base + 1 cream = Palomino - ee,(AA or Aa or aa), CCcr
Chestnut base + 2 cream = Cremello - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), CcrCcr
Bay base + 1 cream = Buckskin - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CCcr
Bay base + 2 cream = Perlino - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CcrCcr
Black base + 1 cream = Smoky Black - EE or Ee, aa, CCcr
Black base + 2 cream = Smoky Cream - EE or Ee, aa, CcrCcr
"D" Gene - Dun - Pigment Dilution
Unlike the "C" gene, this gene dilutes both black and red pigments, but only on the body (not in points). Red pigment will be diluted to a pinkish or yellowish color; black pigment will be diluted to a mouse gray. Additionaly, the horse with have dark points, a dark dorsal stripe, and may have leg and shoulder markings.
Dun-diluted colors:
Chestnut base + dun gene = Red/Claybank Dun - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), CC, DD or Dd
Chestnut base + 1 cream + dun gene = Palomino/Lilac Dun or Dunalino - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), CCcr, DD or Dd
Bay base + dun gene = Dun or Bay Dun - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CC, DD or Dd
Bay base + 1 cream + dun gene = Buckskin Dun - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CCcr, DD or Dd
Black base + dun gene = Grullo or Black Dun - EE or Ee, aa, CC, DD or Dd
"R" Gene - Roan
This gene has not been identified, though we are using it here to aid your understanding; there are zygosity tests for horses to determine whether they are homo- or heterozygous for Roaning. It is a dominant trait. The Roan gene creates a mixture of white hairs on the horse's base coat to produce a coat color that appears entirely different, and often silvery.
Roan-modified colors:
Chestnut base + roan gene = Red/Strawberry Roan - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), RR or Rr
Bay base + roan gene = Bay Roan - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, RR or Rr
Black base + roan gene = Blue Roan - EE or Ee, aa, RR or Rr
"Prl" Gene - Pearl Gene or Barlink Factor - Pearl Dilution
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Pearl (on any non-masking coat color) - any combination of coat colors, PrlPrl
Cream Pearl - any combination of base coat colors, CCcr, nPrl
"Ch" Gene - Champagne Gene - Champagne Dilution
This gene, like the other genes above, will dilute a horse's coat color accordingly. Champagne horses, however, will have pinkish freckled or mottled skin, and hazel eyes.
Champagne Coat Colors:
Black base = Classic Champagne (appears pale black) - EE or Ee, aa, ChCh or nCh
Chestnut Base = Gold Champagne (appears gold, may have flaxen mane & tail) - ee, AA or Aa or aa, ChCh or nCh
Bay base = Amber Champagne (golden body with brown or black points) - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, ChCh or nCh
Seal Brown Base = Sable Champagne (appears the same as Classic) - EE or Ee, AtAt or Ata, ChCh or nCh
"Z" Gene - Silver Dapple Gene - Silver Dilution
This gene only dilutes black pigment, which becomes a chocolate color. The mane and tail may appear silver, and dappling (like that seen in Dapple Gray coloring) may occur. In Australia, this color is known as Taffy.
Silver Coat Colors:
Black base = Black Silver, Silver Dapple, or Chocolate - EE or Ee, aa, ZZ or Zz
Bay base = Bay Silver or Red Chocolate - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, ZZ or Zz
"Prl" Gene - Leopard Complex Gene - Leopard Pattern
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
"Prl" Gene - Blanket - Pearl Dilution
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
www.jenniferhoffman.net/horse/appaloosa.html for the two above
"To" Gene - Tobiano Gene - Pinto Pattern
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Tobiano Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
Skewbald vs. Piebald, Chestnut Tobiano, Bay Tobiano or tri-colored pinto, etc.
"O" Gene - Overo Gene - Pinto Pattern
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Overo Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
frame vs. splash or something??
"SB1" Gene - Sabino Gene -
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Sabino Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
"Prl" Gene - Pangare - Mealy
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Pangare Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
--
"Prl" Gene - Rabicano -
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
Base Colors
"E" Gene - Extension Gene - Red vs. Black
Assuming a horse is neither white nor gray, this is the first gene that determines coat color. The "E" gene determines whether or not there is black pigment in the hair (E) and/or the skin (e).
EE: Both the skin and hair of the horse is black (in areas determined by the A gene).
Ee: Same as above.
ee: The skin of the horse is black, but the hair is "red" and may range from a light or flaxen chestnut, to sorrel, to liver chestnut.
"A" Gene - Agouti Gene - Location of Black (if any)
This gene modifies the Extension gene by determining where the black hair is distributed: either all over the horse's body (a) or only in points (A). There is also the possibility of the Agouti gene poorly restricting the black hair to the points, denoted by At.
AA: If black pigment is present (EE or Ee) the horse will have black points (mane and tail, legs).
Aa: Same as above.
aa: If black pigment is present (EE or Ee) then the horse is completely black.
AtAt or Ata: If black pigment is present (EE or Ee), then the body will appear very dark bay or black with scarcely definable black points and tan or reddish hair around the muzzle, eyes, behind the elbow, underbelly, and flank.
Base Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or AAt or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
Seal Brown - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AtAt or Ata
Maskers of Base Colors
"W" Gene - Dominant White gene
Though most "white" horses are actual light grays, there are "real whites" otherwise known as "Dominant Whites"; these horses lack the ability to form pigment in their hair or skin, resulting in a horse with pink skin, white hair, and either brown or blue eyes.
WW: Lethal. Foal is stillborn or dies shortly after birth.
Ww: Dominant White. Foal is born with pink skin, a white coat, and brown (common) or blue (uncommon) eyes.
ww: The horse will be fully and normally pigmented.
"G" Gene - Gray gene
Many horses that appear white are actually genetically gray; however, as this gene does not affect the pigment or the skin or eyes, they are distinguishable from whites by their dark skin and eyes. Born colored at birth (by whatever their other genetic coat colors are), the horse will slowly turn gray with age; this usually starts on the head - around the eyes and muzzle - as well as around the flank. At certain stages changing grays can be mistaken for roans, due to the mix of gray hairs with colored hairs.
The first true stage of turning color is often referred to as iron, steel, or rose gray, where the darker base coat is lightened by the early effects of gray hairs. The next stage - perhaps the most widely known though also a stage that is skipped by many - is the color referred to as dapple gray; these horses have a dark gray coat mixed with lighter "dapples" or rings. The last stage is flea-bitten gray where the horse's base coat will either appear pure white or "flea-bitten", which consists of a white base with red speckles or "freckles". Flea-bitten markings generally only appear on heterozygous (Gg) grays.
GG: Foal is born its other (genetic) coat color and will slowly turn gray with age. All offspring will be gray.
Gg: Foal is born its other (genetic) coat color and will slowly turn gray with age. All offspring have 50% chance of being gray if other parent is not gray (100% chance of being gray is other parent is GG, 75% chance is other parent is Gg).
gg: The horse will be fully and normally pigmented.
Masked Coat Colors:
White (carries black gene) - Ww, gg, ee, aa
Gray (born Bay) - ww, Gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Gray - ww, GG or Gg, may have any combination of other colors; the horse will be born its base coat color and turn gray as it ages.
White - Ww, may have any combination of other colors; the horse will always appear white and unless the genetics of said horse are known it will be impossible to tell what other color genes it has.
From this point forward, assume all coat colors are homozygous recessive for both white and gray (ww, gg). Only the base coat color and relevant modifier(s) will be listed for the sake of clairty; any gene not listed for a particular color should be assumed homozygous recessive.
Dilution of Base Colors
These colors dilute their base coats.
"C" Gene - Cream - Pigment Dilution
This gene dilutes the pigments of the base coat: when only one copy of the gene is present, red pigment is diluted to yellow and black pigment remains unaffected. When two copies are present, the skin is diluted to a pink color, the hair diluted to very pale cream, and the eyes are diluted to blue.
CC: The horse is fully and normally pigmented.
CCcr: If present, red pigment is diluted to yellow.
CcrCcr: Skin is pink, eyes are blue, and the coat is pale cream.
Cream-diluted colors:
Chestnut base + 1 cream = Palomino - ee,(AA or Aa or aa), CCcr
Chestnut base + 2 cream = Cremello - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), CcrCcr
Bay base + 1 cream = Buckskin - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CCcr
Bay base + 2 cream = Perlino - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CcrCcr
Black base + 1 cream = Smoky Black - EE or Ee, aa, CCcr
Black base + 2 cream = Smoky Cream - EE or Ee, aa, CcrCcr
"D" Gene - Dun - Pigment Dilution
Unlike the "C" gene, this gene dilutes both black and red pigments, but only on the body (not in points). Red pigment will be diluted to a pinkish or yellowish color; black pigment will be diluted to a mouse gray. Additionaly, the horse with have dark points, a dark dorsal stripe, and may have leg and shoulder markings.
DD: Red and black pigments are diluted respectively; the horse will have dark points and may have other markings.
Dd: Same as above.
dd: The horse will be fully and normally pigmented.
Dun-diluted colors:
Chestnut base + dun gene = Red/Claybank Dun - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), CC, DD or Dd
Chestnut base + 1 cream + dun gene = Palomino/Lilac Dun or Dunalino - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), CCcr, DD or Dd
Bay base + dun gene = Dun or Bay Dun - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CC, DD or Dd
Bay base + 1 cream + dun gene = Buckskin Dun - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, CCcr, DD or Dd
Black base + dun gene = Grullo or Black Dun - EE or Ee, aa, CC, DD or Dd
"R" Gene - Roan
This gene has not been identified, though we are using it here to aid your understanding; there are zygosity tests for horses to determine whether they are homo- or heterozygous for Roaning. It is a dominant trait. The Roan gene creates a mixture of white hairs on the horse's base coat to produce a coat color that appears entirely different, and often silvery.
RR: The horse has white hairs intermixed with its darker hairs.
Rr: Same as above.
rr: The horse will be fully and normally pigmented.
Roan-modified colors:
Chestnut base + roan gene = Red/Strawberry Roan - ee, (AA or Aa or aa), RR or Rr
Bay base + roan gene = Bay Roan - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, RR or Rr
Black base + roan gene = Blue Roan - EE or Ee, aa, RR or Rr
"Prl" Gene - Pearl Gene or Barlink Factor - Pearl Dilution
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
PrlPrl: This horse will have pink skin, blue eyes, a diluted coat, and will develop freckles.
nPrl: This horse is a carrier but will appear fully and normally pigmented, although perhaps a bit lighter, unless it also carries one copy of the cream (Ccr) gene, in which case it will appear the same as a PrlPrl horse. If the horse has one copy of each (one Prl, one Ccr) then its foal will always inherit either the Prl gene or the Ccr gene, never both.
n/n: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Pearl (on any non-masking coat color) - any combination of coat colors, PrlPrl
Cream Pearl - any combination of base coat colors, CCcr, nPrl
"Ch" Gene - Champagne Gene - Champagne Dilution
This gene, like the other genes above, will dilute a horse's coat color accordingly. Champagne horses, however, will have pinkish freckled or mottled skin, and hazel eyes.
ChCh: This horse's base coat is diluted to its respective champagne color. All offspring will be champagne.
nCh: Same as above, except 75% of offspring will be Champagne if the other parent is nCh, and 75% of offspring will be fully and normally pigmented (n/n) if the other parent does not carry a Champagne gene.
n/n: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Champagne Coat Colors:
Black base = Classic Champagne (appears pale black) - EE or Ee, aa, ChCh or nCh
Chestnut Base = Gold Champagne (appears gold, may have flaxen mane & tail) - ee, AA or Aa or aa, ChCh or nCh
Bay base = Amber Champagne (golden body with brown or black points) - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, ChCh or nCh
Seal Brown Base = Sable Champagne (appears the same as Classic) - EE or Ee, AtAt or Ata, ChCh or nCh
"Z" Gene - Silver Dapple Gene - Silver Dilution
This gene only dilutes black pigment, which becomes a chocolate color. The mane and tail may appear silver, and dappling (like that seen in Dapple Gray coloring) may occur. In Australia, this color is known as Taffy.
ZZ: If the base coat is black, the horse will appear chocolate with flaxen mane and tail. If the base coat is bay it will remain unchanged, and only the points will be chocolate, possibly with flaxen mane and tail. If the base coat is chestnut, the horse's color will be unaffected by this gene. All offspring with a black or bay base coat will be silver dilutes.
Zz: Same as above (aside from the offspring statistic).
zz: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Silver Coat Colors:
Black base = Black Silver, Silver Dapple, or Chocolate - EE or Ee, aa, ZZ or Zz
Bay base = Bay Silver or Red Chocolate - EE or Ee, AA or Aa, ZZ or Zz
Patches and Spots
"Prl" Gene - Leopard Complex Gene - Leopard Pattern
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
PrlPrl: -------
nPrl: This horse is a carrier but will appear fully and normally pigmented unless it also carries one copy of the cream (Ccr) gene, in which case it will appear that same as a PrlPrl horse.
n/n: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
"Prl" Gene - Blanket - Pearl Dilution
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
PrlPrl: -------
nPrl: This horse is a carrier but will appear fully and normally pigmented unless it also carries one copy of the cream (Ccr) gene, in which case it will appear that same as a PrlPrl horse.
n/n: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
www.jenniferhoffman.net/horse/appaloosa.html for the two above
"To" Gene - Tobiano Gene - Pinto Pattern
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
TOTO: -------
TOto: This horse is solidly pigmented.
toto: This horse is solidly pigmented.
Tobiano Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
Skewbald vs. Piebald, Chestnut Tobiano, Bay Tobiano or tri-colored pinto, etc.
"O" Gene - Overo Gene - Pinto Pattern
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
OO: -------
Oo: This horse is solidly pigmented.
oo: This horse is solidly pigmented.
Overo Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
frame vs. splash or something??
"SB1" Gene - Sabino Gene -
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
SB1SB1: -------
nSB1: ---
n/n: This horse is solidly pigmented.
Sabino Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
Miscellaneous
"Prl" Gene - Pangare - Mealy
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
PrlPrl: -------
nPrl: This horse is a carrier but will appear fully and normally pigmented unless it also carries one copy of the cream (Ccr) gene, in which case it will appear that same as a PrlPrl horse.
n/n: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Pangare Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa
--
"Prl" Gene - Rabicano -
Previously known as the "apricot gene" this gene dilutes the coat in a similar manner to the champagne or cream genes.
PrlPrl: -------
nPrl: This horse is a carrier but will appear fully and normally pigmented unless it also carries one copy of the cream (Ccr) gene, in which case it will appear that same as a PrlPrl horse.
n/n: This horse is fully and normally pigmented.
Pearl Coat Colors:
Chestnut - ww, gg, ee, (may have any combination of A gene)
Bay - ww, gg, EE or Ee, AA or Aa
Black - ww, gg, EE or Ee, aa