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Name: _____________________________ Date: ______________ Period: ______
Equine Coat Color Genetics
Directions: You will be using the interactive application on color genetics:
http://www.jenniferhoffman.net/horse/index.html.
Extension Gene
1. The 2 colors that all other colors build off of are ___________ and _____________; and
is called the ______________ (E) gene.
2. The black pigment is called ___________________.
3. The red pigment is called _____________________.
4. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what color do you get with an:
a. EE? ______________ (homozygous dominant)
b. Ee or eE? ______________ (heterozygous dominant)
c. ee? ______________ (homozygous recessive)
5. Which color is dominant? (circle one)
Black
or
Red
6. Chestnut horses can also be called _____________ due to the different shades of red.
Agouti Gene
7. The Agouti Gene is responsible for the most common coat color, the __________.
8. It modifies the black color so you only see it on the lower ________, ________, and
________.
9. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what color do you get with an:
a. aa? ______________
b. Ata or aAt? ______________
c. Aa or aA? _______________
d. A+a or aA+? ______________
10. The “a” is easily overwritten so it gets lost in the colors/genetics easily, that is why a true
black horse is so uncommon. (circle one) True
or
False
11. Further research is needed to test and study the ________________ color to figure out its
dominance.
White or Gray
12. Which color is fatal if both parents are both that color?
White
or
Grey
13. A truly white horse will have what color of skin? _____________
14. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what color do you get with an:
a. gg? ______________
b. Gg or gG? ______________
c. GG? _______________
Cream Dilution
Equine Science
15. The cream gene is an _____________ _____________, meaning that some colors will be
dominant and dilute over other colors, resulting in ivory to golden shades.
16. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what color do you get with an:
a. Ecrecr or Ecrecr? ______________
b. ecrecr?______________
c. EcrEcr? _______________
d. ECREcr? ___________________
e. ECRECR? ___________________
f. ECREprl? _____________________
g. EprlEprl? _____________________
h. eprleprl? ____________________
Dun Dilution
17. The dun dilution gene dilutes _______ and _______, leaving different areas and patterns
or markings.
18. All duns will have a _____________ stripe down its back and some _______ barring.
19. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what 9 colors do you get with the
different combinations:
a. _______________________
f. _______________________
b. _______________________
g. _______________________
c. _______________________
h. _______________________
d. _______________________
i. _______________________
e. _______________________
Champagne
20. Champagne is a rare dilution gene that can turn a red horse _____________.
21. It also dilutes the skin of the horse to a ___________ _______, which can cause a unique
______________ appearance in dark horses.
22. Champagne horses are unique in that they will have __________ eyes.
23. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what 4 champagne variations do you
get with the different combinations:
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
c. _______________________
d. _______________________
Silver Dapple & Flaxen
24. The silver dapple and flaxen gene affects the ___________ and _________.
25. The silver dapple affects _____________ pigment, while the flaxen affects
__________________ pigment.
26. Which is more recessive? (circle one)
Silver Dapple
or
Flaxen
27. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what 2 mane & tail colors do you
get with the different combinations:
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
Roan, Rabicano, Sooty
28. White hair mixed in with their normal coat color is called a ____________, while black
hair mixed in is called ________________.
29. True or False: A roan color will stay that color its entire life.
30. A rabicano is a horse that displays roaning on its __________________.
31. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, a black horse will give you which 3
different combinations:
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
c. _______________________
32. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, a chestnut horse will give you which
3 different combinations:
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
c. _______________________
Pintos & Paints
33. A Pinto refers to any ______________ with proper coloring pattern, but a paint only
refers to _____________________ and ___________________ breeds.
34. Which color pattern is associated with the Lethal White Syndrome? ________________
Match the different pinto/paint patterns with the correct descriptions:
a. Tobiano
b. Frame Overo
c. Sabino
d. Splashed White
35. _____ Distinctive white spotting pattern with irregular rough edged white patches on 2
or more legs and the face, spots/roaning on belly and flanks, white patches will have pink
skin, do not have blue eyes.
36. _____ Irregular white patches arranged in a horizontal fashion over its base color. They
are usually jagged rather than rounded and typically have a sharp edge, colored legs, and
partial white face, can have blue eyes.
37. _____ Looks like the feet and face were dunked into white paint, white markings are
crisp and blocky, blue eyes, and white tail tip.
38. _____ Large, rounded spots arranged in a vertical pattern, spots will be the base color on
a white background, legs will be white from the knees down, white will cross over the
horse's back between the withers and dock of the tail. The face is usually colored.
39. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, look at what color combinations you
get.
The KIT Gene
40. The KIT gene is responsible for many different ___________ patterns.
41. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, look at what color combinations you
get.
Appaloosa
42. Click on the interactive coat color genetics program, what 6 appaloosa variations do you
get with the different combinations:
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
c. _______________________
d. _______________________
e. _______________________
f. _______________________
43. In addition to white patterning, all Appaloosas will have: pink ______________ on
otherwise ________ skin, ________________ hooves, and a visible ________ (white of
the eye).