Heredity and Genetics

The "C" genes
Part 3 c(chl)-The Shaded Gene

The 3rd gene is the c(chl) gene...the shaded gene, this gene is what makes a siamese sable, smoke pearl, sable point, seal, sable marten and smoke pearl marten. This gene is a little bit different though. If the bunny inherits 2 of these shaded genes (making him [c(chl)][c(chl)]) you have a double shaded, also known as a seal....which is not a recognized variety and it is very difficult at times to tell the difference between a "self" seal and a "self" black...or a black silver marten which looks alot like a seal marten. The black silver marten will have the chin gene as the dominant C gene and the seal has inherited 2 shaded genes, one from each parent. In order to get good shading on your shaded rabbits, you must have 1 shaded gene and either 1 himi or 1 REW gene, this is what a nicely shaded siamese sable or smoke pearl should have in the "C" position in his genetic makeup:

[c(chl)][c(h)]

This rabbit received 1 shaded gene [c(chl)] and 1 himalayan gene [c(h)] the rabbit will not be a himalayan, because the shaded gene will be stronger. Some prefer to use the himalayan gene rather than the REW gene, due to the fact that himalayans tend to have black nails and darker points...which is what you would prefer in your shaded breeding program. More about using the REW in your shaded breeding program in part 5-The REW gene.

What you do not want to breed to in your shaded gene is either an Agouti gene or the Chin gene you might get an agouti sable--a rabbit that at first glance looks like a chin--or a rusty chin, but if you look closer you'll see that the "sable chin" has a darker nose which tends to be brownish. I have seen some very pale chins that I suspect may be an sable agoutis, also. The only way that you can be 100% certain whether an animal is a seal, a sable or chin sometimes is to test breed. There is more on test breeding in Part 5-the REW gene. A siamese sable, siamese smoke pearl and sable points are all "self", "black" "shaded" rabbits. They have the following genetic codes: (there are 2 possibilities--whether the rabbit inherits the himalayan [c(h)] gene or the REW gene [c]

[a][a]-[B][?]-[c(chl)][c(h)]
[a][a]-[B][?]-[c(chl)][c]

Sable martens and smoke pearl martens are the same as siamese sables and siamese smoke pearls except they have received the Tan gene instead of the self gene. But the best coloring for them also comes from the 1 shaded gene and 1 himi or REW gene.
As with other rabbits that are "tan" rabbits....otters, silver martens...the best marten markings come from a double tan gene. [a(t)][a(t)]

The following 2 genetic codes would be possible for a sable marten or smoke pearl marten...as they are "tan" "black" "shaded" rabbits.

[a(t)][?]-[B][?]-[c(chl)][c(h)]
[a(t)][?]-[B][?]-[c(chl)][c]

What can you do to turn a seal into a nicely shaded rabbit...breed it to a himalayan rabbit or a REW, as the offspring will get 1 shaded gene from the seal and either 1 himalayan gene or 1 REW gene from the other parent. I would be very careful to watch the background of the REW rabbit. You would want to avoid any agoutis or chins (chestnuts, opals, squirrels, lynx, chins, silver martens, oranges and fawns). As this could lead to agouti sables and seals. The REW rabbit will not carry the "full-color" [C] gene, the chin gene [c(chd)], the shaded gene [c(chl)], or the himalayan gene [c(h)], as the REW gene is recessive to all of these and if he had inherited any of these, he could not be a REW.

The Agouti gene|The Black/Chocolate gene
The Full Color gene|The chin gene|NEXT-The himalayan gene 1