depends...

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Posted by Chris Harper on December 20, 2001 at 11:35:58:

In Reply to: 'White Oaks'....Locale, yes....but genetic? posted by joe c on December 20, 2001 at 01:58:44:

It depends on what you mean by "genetic".

If you mean is is a single loci recessive or dominant trait then no.

If you mean is it a "heritable" trait under the control of multiple gene loci then the answer is probably. Measuring the heritability of traits is difficult in general and is especially difficult in reptiles that have a fairly long generation time.

I seem to remember a breeder having a stunning white oak ratsnake that he bred to a normal grey ratsnake. The offspring looked intermediate between the two parents and it did not appear that neither the "normal" appearance nor the "white oak" appearance recessed to the other.

This tends to support that notion that the phenotype of the white oak form is under the control of multiple gene loci and is a heritable trait and not exclusively due to some non-genetic factor(s). However, only a "proper" quantitative genetic study would allow us to reject that hypothesis.

: Just wondering if anyone has put any 'white oak' gray rats through breeding trials to see if it is genetic? I understand they are locale specific (n.eastern Florida or s.eastern Georgia?) but was wondering if they are BOTH locale and genetic? (i.e: the anery corns in s.western Florida)Thanks for any info.
: joe c

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Cool......Thanks.....n/p joe c 12/20/01 (0)

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: It depends on what you mean by "genetic". : If you mean is is a single loci recessive or dominant trait then no. : If you mean is it a "heritable" trait under the control of multiple gene loci then the answer is probably. Measuring the heritability of traits is difficult in general and is especially difficult in reptiles that have a fairly long generation time. : I seem to remember a breeder having a stunning white oak ratsnake that he bred to a normal grey ratsnake. The offspring looked intermediate between the two parents and it did not appear that neither the "normal" appearance nor the "white oak" appearance recessed to the other. : This tends to support that notion that the phenotype of the white oak form is under the control of multiple gene loci and is a heritable trait and not exclusively due to some non-genetic factor(s). However, only a "proper" quantitative genetic study would allow us to reject that hypothesis. : : Just wondering if anyone has put any 'white oak' gray rats through breeding trials to see if it is genetic? I understand they are locale specific (n.eastern Florida or s.eastern Georgia?) but was wondering if they are BOTH locale and genetic? (i.e: the anery corns in s.western Florida)Thanks for any info. : : joe c

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