Is 'Snowy' just a fancy way of saying 'White'?

[CityChicker]

All correct in both of your posts, Lisette!

 

[rollyard]

Quote:
M+/M+, Li+/Li+ (wild-type mallard) x m^d/m^d, li^h,li^h (harlequin phase dusky) = M+/m^d, Li+/li^h (according to dominance theory phenotypically wild-type mallards). All offspring will carry two 'known" autosomal recessives ie m^d & li^h. It is possible that some birds (both ducklings & adults) could exhibit some traits associated with both wild-type & dusky, depending on how Li+ & li^h work together in combination with hetero M+/m^d?

Quote:
Yes, 1/16 (6.25%) would (probable) be pure for harlequin phase dusky type snowies (m^d, m^d, li^h/li^h). And some (3/16 or 18.75%) "may" appear like the "wild-type" form with eye-stripes as described by one author (M+/M+, li^h/li^h = 6.25% & M+/m^d, li^h/li^h = 12.5%):-

M+/M+, Li+/Li+
M+/M+, Li+/li^h
M+/M+, Li+/li^h
M+/M+, li^h/li^h

M+/m^d, Li+/Li+
M+/m^d, Li+/li^h
M+/m^d, Li+/li^h
M+/m^d, li^h/li^h

M+/m^d, Li+/Li+
M+/m^d, Li+/li^h
M+/m^d, Li+/li^h
M+/m^d, li^h/li^h

m^d/m^d, Li+/Li+
m^d/m^d, Li+/li^h
m^d/m^d, Li+/li^h
m^d/m^d, li^h/li^h

Quote:
Outcrossing your harlequin dusky to the wild-type mallard would take @ the very least two generations to get a small % (probable) of pure snowies. Crossing to a white "could" introduce any number of unwanted genes, both dominant & recessive; you wouldn't know because you have no idea what is "masked" by white. And even if the white used was genetically snowy (m^d/m^d, li^h/li^h), you would still be introducing the recessive auto white gene wouldn't you, & this could pop up in your line of snowies unless tests done to select for birds without it.

Cheers (PS do check calculations) Edited because I found a couple of mistakes as soon as I posted lol.