Campbell Genetics?

[catcrazy37]

Can someone please explain Campbell coat genetics to me? How many colour genes do they have? How do they interact. Why does aa x dd give you aadd instead of some combination of a and d? What are the lethal genes? All the information I've found on this subject has been incomplete. If anyone knows a good source of information, or can explain it, it'd be a great help.

[souffle]

You'd have to contact a breeder who specialises in this species though there is info out there is you google Campbells Dwarf hamster genetics - I did and several sites came up
Campbells Dwarf Colors

Pictures Single Gene Campbells Russian Dwarf Colors

Dwarf Hamster Genetics

[catcrazy37]

That first link helped me out a fair bit. I think I'm just having trouble understanding how the genes are passed on. If I bred a three colour to a self colour, what would happen? How do you determine what the offspring will look like?

[souffle]

It would depend on if the genes were dominant or recessive and whether either hamster carried any other genes in the mix. I am more familiar with Syrian genetics I'm afraid. From the phenotype (the way the hamster looks on the outside) you are often unable to tell the exact genotype ( the hamster's genetic make up) so you cannot predict what you will get unless you have a full genuine pedigree.