Does anyone know if there are 2 strains of the albino gene in black rats? I thought if 2 albinos bred, tou end up with all albinos? aa X aa = ??

If A = normal, and a = albino?

I am pretty sure there are at least 2 if not more. There is a t-positive and t-negative I am sure of. The black rat has been so diluted with other types of rats (texas, yellows, and others) that some of the genes are not compatible.

I do not know about black rats in specific but...

All organisms that have a simple recessive T- type albino only have one (paired obviously) copy of the tyrosinase gene. Which, by extension, would allow for only one strain of T- type albino.

That said, there are T+ type strains that are very similar in appearance to T- type strains. Breeding one of these T+ types to a T- type would give rise to a phenotype normal animal that was double het for T- and T+.

I do not know about black rats in specific but...

All organisms that have a simple recessive T- type albino only have one (paired obviously) copy of the tyrosinase gene. Which, by extension, would allow for only one strain of T- type albino.

That said, there are T+ type strains that are very similar in appearance to T- type strains. Breeding one of these T+ types to a T- type would give rise to a phenotype normal animal that was double het for T- and T+.

You are correct! :yessir:

Shane, I am pretty sure that there are at least 2 different Albino strains in Obsoleta. If you've got some normals out of an Amel X Amel breeding, then that kind of proves it.

I will post photos of the 3 albinos next week after they have shed. There are definately 2 different types present. I opened up the final egg today to find a dead albino, but check it out! There were 3 albinos, and 5 hets, and only 2 females (hets) in the group which I will keep.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/BRstripe-1.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/stripedBR.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/BRClutch7of9.jpg

Too bad about the one that didn't make it.

The rest in that bottom photo look great though!

Good looking babies! Congrats!

Here is albino #1

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/albino1a.jpg

albino #2
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/albino2b.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/albino2a.jpg

and albino #3
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/albino3a.jpg

Not the best photos, but all were taken under same conditions, no flash and indoors.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Rat%20Snake%20Brindle%20Albino/albino3b.jpg

I would say 1 and 3 are t+ and 2 is t-..... just my opinion....

Tyrosinase-negative - an albino whose cells lack tyrosinase, producing a white and yellow/orange animal with pink eyes.



Tyrosinase-positive - an albino not able to synthesize melanin, but capable of synthesizing tyrosinase, which results in lavender-brown skin color. Also referred to as T+ .


I was thinking #1 and #3 are T-, and #2 is T+, based on these definitions.

#2 looks like a Grape Albino.

I have a poster of Black Rat Snake morphs hanging out in the garage. Just what that one looks like to me. I don't know if that would have anything to do with the fact that you got some Normals out of this or not.