Understanding Fat Tail Gecko morphs

[keithb]

As above what morphs do you breed together for good results and what does het albino and other terms mean.

[paulh]

It would take a book to fully answer these questions.

Short answers:

Breed like to like, and at least some of the babies will look like the parents.

The principles of genetics are the same for mice, maize, and geckos. Get a booklet named Genetics for Herpers. Do a search for it; it's on the web. Trying to learn genetics off the herper web sites is guaranteed to mess up your mind.

Genes come in pairs. All gene pairs are either homozygous or heterozygous.
Homozygous means that the two genes in a gene pair are the same.
Heterozygous means that the two genes in a gene pair are not the same. So het albino means that one gene is an albino mutant gene and the other gene is not an albino mutant gene. As the second gene is not specified, it must be a normal version of the albino gene.

For other definitions, see the stickies in the RFUK genetics forum.

Good luck.

[GlasgowGecko]

Originally Posted by paulh

It would take a book to fully answer these questions.

Short answers:

Breed like to like, and at least some of the babies will look like the parents.

The principles of genetics are the same for mice, maize, and geckos. Get a booklet named Genetics for Herpers. Do a search for it; it's on the web. Trying to learn genetics off the herper web sites is guaranteed to mess up your mind.

A gene is made up of two alleles therefore:
All allele pairs are either homozygous or heterozygous.
Homozygous means that the two alleles in a gene are the same.
Heterozygous means that the two alleles in a gene are not the same. So het albino means that one allele is an albino mutant, and the other allele is not an albino mutant. As the second allele is not specified, it must be a normal version of the albino gene.

For other definitions, see the stickies in the RFUK genetics forum.

Good luck.

Otherwise it is at best confusing.

Andy

[paulh]

Originally Posted by GlasgowGecko

A gene is made up of two alleles ....Andy

Sorry, this is not correct.

Alleles are different versions of a gene. For example, a mutant gene like the albino gene and the normal version of the gene are alleles. A gene pair (not a gene) may be made up of two copies of one allele or one copy each of two alleles.

Don't take my word for it. Consult a good biological dictionary.

[GlasgowGecko]

Originally Posted by paulh

Sorry, this is not correct.

Alleles are different versions of a gene. For example, a mutant gene like the albino gene and the normal version of the gene are alleles. A gene pair (not a gene) may be made up of two copies of one allele or one copy each of two alleles.

Don't take my word for it. Consult a good biological dictionary.

It appears in my haste I have missed out the word pair. But perhaps the condesending comments were not required.