On Mon, 7 Aug 2000 11:25:47 EDT, [Angela] [Hull] wrote:
(message-ID<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> )
>I've read that web site about Blue Gerbils and a question came to mind.
>
>Is it at all possible for the blue to pop up in our own gerbils that we have?
Well, off course, the stock of gerbils where the blues turned up, came from
somewhere. Maybe this gene was already present in that orriginal stock,
although they have been kept in Osnabrueck for a long time, without mixing
in new blood. So it is most obvious that this mutation first occured in
that laboratory. The animals there where very incrossed (remember we had
big problems with the animals initianally), which made it more likely for a
mutation to occur.
Chances are very low for any mutation to show up, especially when you avoid
inbreeding.
> Even if the chance is one in a million...how could you tell if it was the
>diluted gene?
The dilute gene will dilute the colours, to a dusty colour, the dilute
agouti is lighter, looks dusty, the nails are clearer, skin around the eyes
is not as dark as in a normal agouti. The dilute black is bluish, greyish,
but nothing like slate. The pure blues look like they have some ticking,
especially when they are young.
Karin.
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>>>>> Karin van Veen <<<<<
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