Coat Colour In Rabbit

The coat color in rabbits is a classic example of inheritance and variation in genetics. It is determined by multiple genes and exhibits various patterns of inheritance.

1. Multiple Genes: Rabbit coat color is not controlled by a single gene but rather by multiple genes, each of which influences a specific aspect of coat color. These genes interact to produce the final coat color phenotype.

2. Gene Loci: Several gene loci are involved in determining rabbit coat color. The primary ones include the Agouti (A), Extension (E), and Color (C) loci. Each locus has different alleles that can lead to various coat color variations.

3. Agouti Locus (A): The Agouti gene locus determines the distribution of pigments along the hair shaft. It has two main alleles: A (agouti) and a (non-agouti). The A allele produces a banded pattern of pigmentation, resulting in an agouti or “wild” coat color. The a allele suppresses this banding, leading to a solid color.

4. Extension Locus (E): The Extension gene locus controls the presence or absence of black pigment (eumelanin) in the hair. It has two main alleles: E (extension, allowing black pigment) and e (non-extension, leading to a lack of black pigment). The combination of alleles at this locus determines whether the rabbit has black pigment in its coat.

5. Color Locus (C): The Color gene locus determines the intensity of pigmentation in the coat. It has multiple alleles, including C, c(chd), c(chl), c(ch2), and others. Each allele results in different color variations, from full color (C) to various forms of chinchilla (c(chd), c(chl), c(ch2)) and Himalayan (c(h)) patterns.

6. Inheritance Patterns: Rabbit coat color inheritance follows Mendelian principles. The interaction of alleles at the Agouti, Extension, and Color loci determines the overall coat color phenotype. Crosses between rabbits with different genotypes at these loci can lead to a wide range of coat color outcomes.

7. Genetic Variation: The combination of alleles at the Agouti, Extension, and Color loci results in a broad spectrum of rabbit coat colors and patterns. This genetic variation is essential for the diversity of coat colors observed in different rabbit breeds.

8. Breeding for Coat Color: Rabbit breeders often use genetic knowledge to selectively breed rabbits with specific coat colors or patterns. By controlling the inheritance of alleles at the relevant loci, breeders can produce rabbits with desired coat color traits.