Quote Originally Posted by zachman17
from my understanding (and correct me if i'm wrong please), morphs result from a mutation in a gene sequence that codes for pigments that give snakes their color...hence resulting in an "atypical" color. if this is the case, and pieds are recessive, why is it that the white color only covers a certain percentage of the snake?
if both genes are mutated, wouldn't one expect to see a completely white snake(leucistic i believe)?
thanks
-zach
Obviously, piebaldism isn't a simple all or none trait. It's actually an autosomal dominant skin disorder in humans (yes, humans can be pied ... and het for pied as well) and has been documented in many genera. The lack of melanocytes in patches of skin on pieds is most likely caused during development of each skin cell when the presence of the homozygous allele(s) (28 alleles in the human condition) allows the cell to code either with melanocytes or without ... leucism works differently, causing all (or at least almost all) skin cells to code without melanocytes. Coincidentally, I have read done some reading on bird mutations where breeders refer to piebaldism and leucism in fancy fowl interchangeably.

-adam