Table of Contents
What are the two base colors of a horse?
Horses’ coat colors are derived from one of two possible base pigments: red or black, which means that every horse has a gene for either of these pigments. Bay is also considered a base color by some people. Extention genes control the production of red or black pigments.
What are the four basic horse colors?
There are only four basic horse colors. Bay, brown, black and chestnut.
What are the base colors for horses?
Base Coat Colors—Horses have three basic coat colors, Graves said: red (or chestnut), bay, and black, all of which are controlled by the interaction of two genes.
What is a two color horse called?
A pinto horse has a coat color that consists of large patches of white and any other color. The distinction between “pinto” and “solid” can be tenuous, as so-called “solid” horses frequently have areas of white hair. Various cultures throughout history appear to have selectively bred for pinto patterns.
Where can I find information on horse color genetics?
On this horse color genetics page you will find a discussion of these genes and their affects on the phenotype (external appearance) of various colors and shades of horse.
How are the coat colors of horses determined?
Equine Coat Color Genetics 1 Base Coat Color. The basic coat colors of horses include chestnut, bay, and black. 2 Dilution Genes. There are several genes that that have been shown to reduce the amount of pigment produced and/or reduce the amount transferred from the pigment cell to the hair 3 White Spotting Pattern Genes.
Which is the dominant allele in equine color genetics?
Equine Color Genetics. 4th Edition Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press. ISBN: 978-1-119-13058-1. The dominant allele (A) restricts black pigment to the points of the horse (mane, tail, lower legs and ear rims). The recessive allele (a) uniformly distributes black pigment over the entire body.
How many genes are involved in equine pigmentation?
While, over 300 different genes have been identified that contribute to mammalian pigmentation, for many of these their contribution to equine pigmentation variation remains unknown. The genetics behind the variability in shade in horses is something we still have a lot to learn about.