> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 10:29:28 -0400
> From: Tony Gamble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> While the Tremper strain is t+, it's also possible that the Rainwater
> strain is t+ as well as the result of a different mutation of the same
> gene. I've got an idea of how this would happen but it would take some
> testing to verify it.
If Tremper x Rainwater gives 100% normals, and the two types of albino
assort independently, they *have* to be mutations of different genes,
don't they?
There are several steps involved in synthesizing melanin from tyrosine,
each catalyzed by an enzyme, each enzyme coded for by a gene. A t-
albino has an inactive tyrosinase enzyme. A t+ albino can have a
mutation in any of the other genes that code for steps of melanin
synthesis.
It seems that the amount of brownish pigment expressed in a Tremper
albino may depend on some environmental factor, possibly temperature or
light exposure. There's precedent for temperature-dependent partial
albinism in mammals, the Siamese or Himalayan trait in cats and
rabbits. It would be interesting if this were the case in these
geckos.
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