Help with Morphs

[Mendel's Balls]

Ok so I have all of the different morphs pretty much recognized, but there is still something I don't get. I think I have a little normal morph BP, but if I wanted her to have pretty babies what would I have to do? Basically, are some morphs random? They are a genetic mutation so I would assume the answer to be yes but if normal morphs are in the wild where do the Spiders, Mojave, and cinnys come from?

This is my little Kyna.. She is normal... Isn't she?

Proven Morphs have two requirements, they must be significantly different from the normal ball python and must be passed on genetically.

Initially genetic mutations arise randomly. But once they arise they can be passed on. Mutations in genes create alternative versions of genes called alleles.

Each organisms carries two copies of each gene or two alleles for each gene. (remember genes are carried along chromosomes and reptiles, like us, have two of each chromosome-one from mom, one from dad).

The different versions of a gene are expressed differently to produce a visual appearance. The relationship between the mutant allele and the normal or wild-type allele will determine the number of generations it will take to produce a genetic morph.

If the mutant allele is dominant like the spider mutation, that means you could mate your bp to a Spider BP and get some Morphs and some normals.

If its recessive it will take a little longer. If you breed an albino to a normal, you get all normal looking offspring (Aa). These normal looking offspring are special however--they carry the mutant albino allele. If you take these normal offspring and mate them to each other (Aa x Aa), you have a 25% chance for each egg being an albino. Alternatively, you could mate one of these offspring (Aa) to the original albino parent (aa) and increase you chances to 50% for each egg.

That some of the basics......There are other relationships between mutant and normal alleles.....co-dominant is one.

My recommendation--if you really want to learn it right--check out a good biology/genetics text book. Then use this site--There are a lot of people here that can help you apply it to snakes.

EDIT-->I like what you have on your website so far.