Gerbil Gene Glossary
A Locus
The Agouti Locus ~ This controls the white belly and banding in the hair
A* - Agouti
a - non-agouti or self coloured
C Locus
The Abino Locus or Chinchilla Locus ~ This controls the overall level of colour which is produced in a gerbils coat
C* - full colour
c(chm) - Chinchilla medium (previously Burmese) - This reduces the colour intensity of the coat but leaves pigment at the extremities. It also slightly dilutes the eye pigments. The gene is temperature sensitive.
c(h) - Himalayan - This removes most of the coat pigments but leaves pigment at the tail. It also dilutes the eye colour to ruby. The gene is temperature sensitive. This allele is more extreme in action than Chinchilla Medium
D Locus
The Dilution Locus ~ In the Mongolian gerbil this gene controls the Intensity of Black pigment, Yellow pigments are only slightly diluted but regain full colour as the gerbil ages.
D* - Intense or full colour
d - Dilutes Black.
E Locus
The Extension Locus ~ This controls the balance between the black and yellow pigments in the coat.
E*- Normal extension of black and yellow in the coat.
e - Extension of yellow, increases the yellow pigment in the coat at the expense of the black pigment.
e(f) - Extension of yellow fading, increases the yellow pigment at the expense of the black but the colour fades with the animals age.
P Locus
Pink-Eyed Dilution Locus ~ This controls the eye colour and lightens the coat colour.
P* - Non Pink eyed. (Eyes are Black)
p - Removes nearly all the black pigment from the coat, leaves yellow pigments intact,and dilutes the eye colour to a ruby red.
Underwhite Locus
The Uw Locus ~ This controls the black and yellow intensity of the coat.
Uw - Full colour.
uw- Dilutes all the yellow pigments to cream or off-white, removes virtually all of the black pigments and dilutes the eye to a dark ruby.
uw(d) (Formerly g) Dilutes all yellow pigments to cream or off-white, dilutes black pigments to grey and slightly dilutes the eye pigments.
Dominant SP Locus
The Dominant Spotting Locus ~ Controls white spotting white markings can be exended by modifying genes, i.e spot to patch, patch to collared & collared to mottled, also dilutes the coat colour.
Non-spotted
Non-spotted hasn't officially been allocated a symbol by geneticists. .
* indicates the gene found in the wild type, i.e Agouti coat colour.