Hypo Genetics?

[junglepython2]

Does any one on here know how hypo genetics work in reptiles?
Seeming as there isn't really a cut off mark between a hypo and normal I'm guessing it's polygenetic but if anyone could shed some light on this for me it would be great.

[jordo]

Yes I agree the phenotypes seem to be on a continuous scale much like our skin colour. Google didn't give me much but check out this site: http://www.vmsherp.com/LCMutations.htm
It explains how several morphs occur.

[grimbeny]

I dont think its that well understood. It doesnt follow the typical single gene mendelion trend. My guess would be that their are many genes that code for colouration patterns(like eye colour). I think its more a name assigned to animals with a different colour pattern (which vary so much anyway) rather than a specific trait such as albinism.

[boa]

Yes it would appear that hypomelanism isn't as clear cut as albinism. With the latter you know exactly the outcome of breeding homozygous, hetrozygous and wild type but hypoism doesn't follow in the same way. Breeding 2 hypos doesn't seem to give 100% hypo.

[Aslan]

That fact suggests that Hypomelanism is a co-dominant trait - different variations of the two dominant traits is exhibited. I am not fantastic with my genetics but I would imagine that being co-dominant you are very likely to have a large majority of Hypos carrying both Hypo and Standard gene and merely exhibiting a greater degree of Hypo...

...possibly explains the Hypo X Hypo doesnt always produce a Hypo...

...just my thoughts on the matter but would again like to stress that my knowledge of mendelian genetics is very limited

[grimbeny]

Being co-dominant is a possibility. But i am more inclined to beleive their are more than 1 gene deciding on the colour variation.In humans skin colour has hundreds of genes which decide skin and hair colour.

[junglepython2]

Originally Posted by Aslan

That fact suggests that Hypomelanism is a co-dominant trait - different variations of the two dominant traits is exhibited. I am not fantastic with my genetics but I would imagine that being co-dominant you are very likely to have a large majority of Hypos carrying both Hypo and Standard gene and merely exhibiting a greater degree of Hypo...

...possibly explains the Hypo X Hypo doesnt always produce a Hypo...

...just my thoughts on the matter but would again like to stress that my knowledge of mendelian genetics is very limited

A simple Co-dominant locus wouldn't give a continuum though should only give normal and possibly two degrees of hypo. Thanks for all the input guys, and Jordo that site has some good info!

By the way that site claims "It is likely that several different alleles may be at work here, all lumped under the term hypomelanism by herpetoculturists"

Which seems to make the most sense.