finding out your bps genes

[Distrakshun]

i was wondering if i could take my bp to my local vet to find out its gender and if it could get a blood test to see what its genomes were becuase i would like to start breeding and i was hoping i could possibly have some morphs in the clutch.
Thanks

[muddoc]

Your local vet should surely be able to sex your ball python for you. As far as any type of DNA testing being done, I'm sure it is possible, but for the cost of getting it done, you could probably buy a few morphs to start projects with.

[jglass38]

I thought I read something recently about some advances in genetic testing for reptiles. Although it could just be my mental illness creeping back in...

[Distrakshun]

alright thanks that helps. If i breed a morph or any het with my normal will there still be a chance that i get some morphs? or do i need two morphs or a morphs and 100% het of that type? oh and does any one have a rough estimate of how much it would be to get my bp sexed?

[Mendel's Balls]

The Cost of DNA testing probably isnt the issue here....DNA testing is not as expensive as one might think...there a certainly morphs much more pricey.....

The Problem is we dont know much about the "molecular" genetics of reptiles. In other words, We know very little about DNA sequences for the genes that control skin color and pattern in the ball python. Without knowing the DNA sequences for the normal genes, it impossible to compare a morph genes' to a normal ball pythons genes. In other words, at the moment it impossible to genotype a normal looking ball python and say yes it is a carrier (heterozygote) for the "spider gene".

The only way to prove a het is to do it the old fashioned way and do breeding experiements (classical genetics)

For example you could bred a potential het to a recessive morph and see if it produces any offspring that are morphs.

[Distrakshun]

ok thanks i think ill just find a shelter and wait and see if they end up with a morph but first i need to find out my bps sex lol. oh thanks again.

[Shelby]

Considering the high cost and demand for morph ball pythons I can 99% guarantee your snake carries no morph genes, and you aren't about to find a morph in a rescue situation. If you want to get into morphs but don't have a lot of money, you can invest in hets or possible hets and breed your own.

You will not get any morphs from breeding your normal BP unless you bred it to a morph that is a dominant or co-dominant mutation.. such as pastel, spider, mojave etc.