Basic Pomsky Color Genetics
Introduction
The genetic make-up of an animal is described as its genotype the letter break down on DNA testing.) A phenotype describes the effect of the genotype on the PHYSICAL look of the organism.
All dogs carry two alleles(genes) at each locus, only one of these alleles is generally expressed (the most dominant, the other is normally dormant).
The most dominant allele will always be the one which is expressed in the phenotype. A recessive allele is one which is less dominant.
The main color genes (in dominance order)
- E: Em, E, EA, e/E3
- A: Ay, Aw, At, a
- K: Kb, Kbr, Ky
- B: B, b
- D: D, d
- I: Color Intensity Levels
- M(Merle): Mm(if there is a copy of M instead of m, it will ALWAYS express even if it doesn’t physically look like it on the coat. The dog IS Merle if it has a copy of M)
Physical Color Names
- Ay: Sable
- Aw: Agouti
- At: Tanpoint(Not to be confused with Tanpoint domino which is a marking and NOT a color)
- a: Recessive Black
- Kb: Dominant Black
- Kbr: Brindle
Tan-point VS Tan-point Domino Markings
- A "tanpoint" dog refers to a dog with the standard tan point markings, meaning they have small areas of tan color on specific points like the face, paws, and chest.
- A "tanpoint domino" dog has the same tan point markings but with an additional "domino" pattern, which is the addition of white eyebrows on the face. It also adds a darker band of color along the back and top of the legs, creating a more "grizzled" appearance on top of the tan points; essentially, the domino gene adds a darker overlay to the tan point pattern.