Amel vs. Sunglow

[Blue Apple Herps]

Hey, thanks a lot. So does that mean that a sunglow doesn't have one "magic gene" that makes it a sunglow? In other words, we all know if you breed a spider BP to a normal, you get 50% chance of getting spider babies, period. But if I am understanding you correctly, the genetics with the amel/sunglows works somewhat randomly, like a trait being developed slowly instead of all at once.

You're correct that there isn't a "sunglow" gene. I wouldn't call it random, maybe pseudo-random. Like I said, two sunglows will throw a lot more sunglow babies than two regular amels. But it was a selectively bred trait. i.e. the most vibrant babies were bred together, then the most vibrant babies from that were bred together, etc.

Since we're talking about genetics, stripes/motley is the same kind of thing, right? I was under the impression that stripe is just a very selectively bred form of motley?

They're allelic to each other with motley being dominant to stripe. So stripe is its own distinct allele and a single gene causes it. Even though they originated out of motleys, they're not selectively bred.

Also, interesting change Jake has gone through. As a juvenile I wouldn't have called him sunglow (though maybe the camera is playing tricks), but as an adult he definitely makes the cut IMO.