Hey all, just joined the Forum today. New to the genetics so still figuring things out (i.e. forgive my ignorance!)...

Everywhere I look people talk about Butter and Lesser being varying expression of the same gene. Most agree, but some don't. This makes sense because even when you breed them into other genes they still look very similar, such as with Butter/Pastel/Spider and Lesser/Pastel/Spider (for example).

Butter/Pastel/Spider:


Lesser/Pastel/Spider (lighting is different, but you can see how similar they look):



BUT!!!

If they're the same gene, can someone please explain this snake to me? How is this possible if Butter and Lesser are the same gene? Is this a "super" expression of the gene, but they're just not not calling it that in order to keep Butter/Lesser identified separately?



Thanks for any info!


1.0 Butter Ball Python
1.0 Butterbee Ball Python
1.0 Firefly Ball Python
0.1 Mojave Ball Python
1.0 Western Hognose
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
2.0 Red Tail Boa (Imperator)