Jackie is right. It is selective breeding in captivity of inbreeding certain generations that has produced this vast color pallete.
>From: Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: Interspecies mating
>Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 12:57:28 -0400
>
>I'm pretty darn sure that gerbil colors are from gerbils, not
>interspecies mating. The genetics for an Agouti, the common wild
>gerbil color is A*C*E*G*P*. This means that * can be dominant or
>recessive. In the wild, dominant genes are more likely to be passes
>on in the while, for genetically they would have a better chance of
>survival. The colors are just the result of selective breeding in
>captivity. The same thing can be applied to the many different
>colors
>of dogs, cats, and horses, that we have today, compared to the wild
>ones many centuries ago. ;)
>
>-Jackie & The Copper Dragon Clan
>
>
>>Would someone be so kind as to educate me on this. To me, it seems
>>logical
>>that gerbils have been bred with something to bring about all the
>>colors
>>that we see now. Were lab or home raised agoutis bred with other
>>species
>>to bring colors to the bloodlines? When reading about the discovery
>>of
>>gerbils in the wild, I don't recall reading any descriptions of
>>black,
>>white, or other colors.
>>
>>~Mary
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Espiritus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2001 8:07 PM
>>Subject: Interspecies mating
>>
>>
>>> Ok, folks, on the Degu list there was a posting that
>>> said that Gerbils and Mice will breed if kept together
>>> in captivity. I am having difficulty believing this,
>>> but, hay, I didn't know we could use ivermectin on
>>> gerbils! The things I learn as I age . . .any truth to
>>> this thing about gerbils and mice?
>>>
>>> Namaste
>>>
>>> Cynthia
>>>
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