Genetics....

[Family Jewels]

does "Het albino x Het Toffee" mean a ball python with a normal gene paired with an albino gene mated to a ball python with a normal gene paired with a toffee gene? Or does it mean a gene pair made up of an albino gene and a toffee gene?

I've always used (and seen it used) to indicate a breeding. So a het albino X het toffee would produce a 1:3 phenotypic ratio of toffinos and normals (66% poss het for either albino or toffee). However it sometimes depends on context.

NERD actually stumbled on a very convenient genetic term to describe what we're seeing when two "compatible" mutant allelic traits combine to produce a unique phenotype: Compound heterozygous.http://www.newenglandreptile.com/ind...cts-like-super

NERD lists all of the following as compound heterozygous:http://www.newenglandreptile.com/ind...uper-balls/als

As you can see, the definition fits perfectly with the Toffino / Candino phenomenon... as well as several others that have created difficulties for ball python terminology.

For example:
Gg = gravel (dominant gene/ heterozygous)
Yy = yellowbelly (dominant gene/ heterozygous)
GY = highway (compound heterozygous)

Tt = het toffee (recessive gene/ heterozygous)
Aa = het albino (recessive gene/ heterozygous)
ta = Toffino (compound heterozygous)