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Susan you are correct. A locus is a place on a chromosome where certain genes can be found. The E locus only has E type alleles( genes) located at its location. Alleles are different genes that occupy a specific locus or place on a chromosome. The common alleles that are found at the E locus are extended black (E), birchin (E^R), brown e^b, dominant wheaten e^Wh and wild type e^+. You notice that the gene symbols start with an e. The ^ thing means the letters after the e are superscript. I am also using the classical form of writing the genotype or gene symbols. People in the scientific world write them differently but the classical method is ok to use. The E locus is a good place to start learning chicken genetics. Every chicken has a basic color plan or primary color pattern that is determined by the E locus. Learn those first then start working on the rest of the genetics. All the varieties of chickens are build upon certain E locus genes.
An example would be the columbian pattern which is built upon the brown E locus allele and so is the buff columbian pattern. The only difference between the two is the columbian is sex linked silver and the buff columbian is sex linked gold. Add a blue gene to the columbian and you get a blue columbian. Add the cream gene to the buff columbian and you get citron columbian ( would be cool looking). Add a blue gene to the citron columbian and you will have blue citron columbian.
Tim
