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Recessive means that there must not be a different, more dominat allele present if the bird for the gene to work, or "show." In the case of a non sex-linked gene, the bird must have two copies. Recessive white is an OFF switch that prevents the bird from forming pigment for the feathers. All the other genes are there, and if recessive white had not been present in two copies, the bird would have been...whatever all those other genes add up to.
It is easy to breed out the appearance of a recessive gene; simply cross to a bird who has a more dominant form. But you are right, recessive copies can hide for generations and one day match up with another bird's recessive copy and surprise, where did THAT trait come from. It is a bit harder to breed out a dominant gene, but once it is gone, it is GONE.
The only genetics I know are chicken, but those who have known dog or horse who have then come to chicken typically say that chicken genetics are much more complicated. I read once that they were similar in complexity to rat genetics, which approach human in complexity.
All genes, or their loci, if you wish, have at least two alleles (alternatives); some have a number of different alleles, The e-locus has extended black, birchen, wheaten, wildtype and brown. the i-locus has dominant white, dun, smokey & wildtype (not white). the S-locus has Silver and gold, There are a lot more gene loci.
Recessive means that there must not be a different, more dominat allele present if the bird for the gene to work, or "show." In the case of a non sex-linked gene, the bird must have two copies. Recessive white is an OFF switch that prevents the bird from forming pigment for the feathers. All the other genes are there, and if recessive white had not been present in two copies, the bird would have been...whatever all those other genes add up to.
It is easy to breed out the appearance of a recessive gene; simply cross to a bird who has a more dominant form. But you are right, recessive copies can hide for generations and one day match up with another bird's recessive copy and surprise, where did THAT trait come from. It is a bit harder to breed out a dominant gene, but once it is gone, it is GONE.
The only genetics I know are chicken, but those who have known dog or horse who have then come to chicken typically say that chicken genetics are much more complicated. I read once that they were similar in complexity to rat genetics, which approach human in complexity.
All genes, or their loci, if you wish, have at least two alleles (alternatives); some have a number of different alleles, The e-locus has extended black, birchen, wheaten, wildtype and brown. the i-locus has dominant white, dun, smokey & wildtype (not white). the S-locus has Silver and gold, There are a lot more gene loci.
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