MUTATIONS - Colors & Blends Defined by MCBA
Mutation - a change in a gene, potentially capable of being transmitted. In the fur industry the term mutation refers to colors other than standard.
TERMINOLOGY
Allelic Genes - Genes that occupy the same position on a specific pair or chromosomes and control the heredity of a particular characteristic such as eye color, density or fur color.
Dominant - When a gene is called dominant, it is implying that it is dominant to the standard. In the breeding of dominants, the simple basic rule is: If you cannot see it, it is not there as there are no carriers for dominant genes. An animal that has one mutation gene is hetero, two of the same genes is homo and if they have one of one color and one of another color, they are blends.
Double Dominant - An animal carrying two different dominant genes.
Recessive - Opposite of dominant. A recessive gene has no effect of phenotype homozygous. A recessive is homozygous and every time it breeds it passes on its recessive gene. To produce a recessive, one must have the recessive gene in both parents; it is dependent upon what it is mated to as to what it will produce.
Double Recessive - An animal carrying two different recessive genes.
Genotype - Genes which make up each characteristic an animal possesses. Each pair of genes determines the genotype for a different characteristic although it may not be visible. This classification is made on the basis of genetic formulas.
Phenotype - The composition of visible, genetically determined characteristics (such as color) which may appear alike, but which may differ in genetic makeup. In other words, it is what you see.
Heterozygous -(Hetro) Genetically impure, having unlike genes. An animal carrying two different color genes, one from each parent. Sometimes referred to as half-blood. An animal with one dominant and one recessive gene for a particular trait is heterozygous.
Homozygous -(Homo) Purebred. When the animal inherits the same gene from both parents. It is also sometimes referred to as a full-blood.
COLORS
***One note on "Colors". The Standard Color chin is the backbone of all chins. All colors have been mutated from the "standard". As for breeding quality the standard has the highest quality. Better bloodlines,better health, and a higher quality fur.(This is something we learned from another breeder, and since then have changed our methods of breeding). Don't get me wrong colors have value in the show ring, and are very popular.
White – White cannot be obtained in the homozygous state because two of the dominant genes are lethal when they occur in the same animal. Depending on the color that these animals are bred with, different patterns will show themselves in the offspring. In the silvering pattern, there is a very short, dark tip on the end of many of the fur fibers and there is blue underfur instead of white underfur.
In a show, white chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Predominantly white
2. White with dark guard hairs
3. White with pink/beige markings
4. White mosaic/ broken pattern
5. Silver (has color in underfur and a bar)
Pink/White
Sapphire - A recessive mutation that has a crystal clear blue veiling, a white bar and a soft light blue underfur. It has pink ears and a light colored tail.
In a show, sapphire chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
5. Wrap
Sapphire
Violet - A beautiful lavender or lavender/violet color with nice even veiling, good clear white belly, nice texture and good overall appearance. It has beautiful lavender type underfur and a pale lavender bar.
In a show, violet chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
5. Wrap
Violet
Beige – This mutation is a complete dominant with no lethal factor and a homozygous animal can occur. The homozygous animal has a much lighter and finer type of fur than the heterozygous beige. Its eyes can vary from a very pale pink to a ruby color. Generally, the darker heterozygous beige has the darker eyes and the homozygous animal has the lighter eyes.
In a show, beige chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
5. Extra Dark (usually Beige/Black cross)
6. Wraps (Tans)
Hetro Beige
Naturalle - In chinchillas, the standard color is a pearl-blue-gray in six different color variations ranging from light/medium to extra dark. This animal is sometimes known as a standard. The standard has an agouti-fur pattern meaning that it has a tip, bar and underfur. All agouti-patterned animals are lighter colored on their under parts.
In a show, naturalle chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light/Medium
2. Medium
3. Dark/Medium
4. Medium/Dark
5. Dark
6. Extra Dark
Standard
Charcoal/Ebony – Ebonies can range from “every hair shiny black” to an animal that looks almost like a standard. Ebonies have gray or black bellies and no bar.
In a show, ebony chinchillas are divided into the following categories.
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
Homo Ebony
Black - This peculiar type of dominant has a black “cape” extending over the head, neck and back of the animal. The sides are gray. The animal has a very bright appearance and a clear white belly.
In a show black chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
Black Velvet
NOTE: Maintaining accurate records is important because a recessive gene may be carried for generations without expressing itself until such time as it is matched with a mate carrying the same gene. If a recessive is mated to a standard, it will produce all standard offspring; those offspring will carry the recessive gene. If that standard that is a carrier for recessive is mated to a recessive, they will produce on an average 50% recessive and 50% standard carrier offspring. If two recessives are mated together, they will produce 100% of that mutation. By using this method, improvements in size or fur qualities may be done.