Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pigmentation
Allelic Series
A, a Agouti, non-agouti (gene ASP): Currently we do not have nonagouti, so as far as we know all sugar gliders are AA
B, b (gene TYRP1) As far as we know, we do not have any brown
gliders that have shown to be heritable. If the cremino mutation is
TRP1, then we have bcr (cremino) and bcrun (cremino unstable)
C, c Color locus albino (gene TYR): C, c, cun (unstable), cde (dark-eyed)
D, d Non-dilute, dilute (gene one of the transport proteins RAB,
Melanophillin, or Myocin): Platinum may have dilute gene or may have
MITF genes, unknown whether platinum fits here or in E series
E, e Extension (gene MITF): E, e (leucistic, black eyed white), possibly
eplat (platinum). White spot mosaic mutation may fall into this series as
a dominant mutation Ews
Agouti Responsible for determining whether an animals coat is
banded (agouti) or of a solid color (non-agouti). Agouti is a type of
coloring in which each hair displays alternating bands of dark and light
pigmentation (Wikipedia).
TYRP1
TYR
MITF Transcription factor, turns on several genes that have many
functions such as transcription of genes that control cell lineage
specification and commitment, migration, proliferation, and survival of
pigment cells. Provides several different outcomes.
Kit-C RTK receptor involved in migration, proliferation, and survival,
based on availability of stem cell factor (Kit-L, bot cell bound and free)
and its ability to bind to it. Under direction of MITF (which causes both
Kit-C and Kit-L to be transcribed).
Classic/Standard Gray
Black Beauty
Phenotype: A variation of classic gray.
Characterized by a dark black stripe,
generally dark rings around their eyes
(called eye liner), black knuckles,
black bars that run from the ears to
the eyes, a dark chin strap, and a dark
undertone to the belly fur (usually
silver).
Genotype: Polygenic. Believed that all
are partially dominant, except that a
single leucistic gene thins the stripe
every time.
Related: Black Face Black Beauty
Leucistic
Phenotype: Solid white fur, no
stripe, no ear bars. Black eyes.
Genotype: Recessive trait. Trait
e. Caused by a reduction of skin
pigment. Genes responsible are
usually the c-kit gene and the mitf
gene. In the embryonic state, these
genes result in the defect of a
transmembrane protein which
results in an absence of
melanocytes (cells that produce
pigment).
Founding Lines
Ethan, Gabriel, Fizban
Cheese
Sammie, Sesamie
Magnolia
Snow White
Cremino
Also known as crme-ino, creamino.
Phenotype: Creamy fur color, tawny
stripe, garnet eyes. Eyes may be different
shades of garnet, from a black
appearance to a red appearance.
Genotype: IF cremino mutation is TRP1,
they would be b-cr (cremino), b-crun
(cremino unstable).
Related: Paradox cremino (unstable)
silver appearance, occasionally black
spots
Albino
Platinum
Haley
Silverbelle
Caramino
Piebald
Piebald is a variation of mosaic. Very
little is known about piebald. We have
pied lines, but many of our best
piebalds have come from minimally
marked mosaics paired with grays.
Because the convention in sugar glider
breeding for the past decade and a
half has been to always outbreed, no
lines have been established that
reliably produce piebalds.
Phenotype: Large unpigmented areas
of hair with normally pigmented
patches. Skin of the animal follows this
pattern as well. Skin pattern is
irregular and asymmetrical.
There are two different types of piebalds: progressive piebald, and true
Figure 11 Jinx the marbled reverse stripe
piebald.
piebald mosaic (source: Jordyn Schirado)
Keeper is both a true and progressive pied. She has lost almost all of
her light gray over time but she still has the dark spots on her ears, the
dark gucci spots, and the butt band. Believed that she has Kit-C and a
vitiligo mutation. This would result in not enough pigment stem cells
and not enough proliferation signals.
True Piebald
Instead of, for example,
8 initial cells that
become the foundation
for the pigment cells, it
is believed that
Kaleidoscope has 2
colonal groups instead.
We do not have enough
proliferation or
migration to fill in the
spaces between; he does not have enough stem cells. This is likely KitL (stem cell factor).
Figure 13 Kaleidoscope the true piebald
Figure 16 Kiana, one of the few known true piebald creminos (source: Nikki
Robinson)
Progressive Piebald
Figure
20 Ryker
the progressive piebald (source:
Figure 21 Ryker as a joey
(source:
Gwen
Nikki Robinson)