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by vonissk on 15 March 2011 - 22:03
What exactly is a masking gene? I read on a white gsd website that this stud dog carried this gene and he produced sable pups. Is this possible? Is this only a gene the white dogs carry? Thank you in advance.
by pod on 16 March 2011 - 09:03
'Masking gene' is very much a layman's term and is used, usually, to describe 'genes' that disguise underlying coat patterns.
The gene that controls white in the GSD is the E locus and the particular allele is recessive e. When a dog has a double dose of this (ee), he is white, or rather cream in the GSD. The gene that controls the normal GSD colour patterns is the A locus - sable, black & tan, black and evey dog has a double dose of this gene whatever his visual colour, it's just that these are hidden completely by the presense of ee which turns the dog white.
So a white GSD will still have his A locus gene in place and is capable of producing sable, B&T or black when mated to a non white GSD, it all depends on which alleles are actually present in both parents.
The gene that controls white in the GSD is the E locus and the particular allele is recessive e. When a dog has a double dose of this (ee), he is white, or rather cream in the GSD. The gene that controls the normal GSD colour patterns is the A locus - sable, black & tan, black and evey dog has a double dose of this gene whatever his visual colour, it's just that these are hidden completely by the presense of ee which turns the dog white.
So a white GSD will still have his A locus gene in place and is capable of producing sable, B&T or black when mated to a non white GSD, it all depends on which alleles are actually present in both parents.
by vonissk on 17 March 2011 - 01:03
Thank you Pod and also thank you for making it simple for a person that is genetically challenged. LOL....................
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