Question About Genetics!!

[Pinkpandavt]

Hi Guys!

I was wondering what are the genetic variations that can come from the DEW (Dark Eared White) gene? If there are any?
I know cinnamon has a lot of variations such as dove and mink. But i am in love with the DEW gene as of now and was wondering what gene it should be bred to in order to get the best color variations in the litter and get some DEWs as well!

Thanks!

[Hekomi]

Genetically, DEW is cdcd.

By genetic variations, do you mean mixed with things? As far as I know, it can be mixed with cinnamon (p) to produce FEW.

I believe (Nancy will correct me if I'm wrong!) that the extreme dilute gene lives on the c locus, as c(e), but I'm not sure how it corresponds with DEW in general.

Sorry, that's probably not as helpful as you would have liked!

[Pinkpandavt]

alright awesome, Thanks Hekomi!!
I was just wondering what would be the best colors to breed a DEW to?
I am guessing solids such as blacks, cinnies, Greys?

[Pinkpandavt]

Originally Posted by Hekomi

Genetically, DEW is cdcd.

By genetic variations, do you mean mixed with things? As far as I know, it can be mixed with cinnamon (p) to produce FEW.

I believe (Nancy will correct me if I'm wrong!) that the extreme dilute gene lives on the c locus, as c(e), but I'm not sure how it corresponds with DEW in general.

Sorry, that's probably not as helpful as you would have liked!

Actually it was very helpful!
Also While I am asking about Genetics!
The DS gene...Can that be put on any color?
Like are there DS BEC, or DS torts, and so on?
I have only ever really seen mostly white hams with Black spots.
Thanks!

[Hekomi]

Above question - personally I'd cross them to solid selfs. The DEW can mask patterns (including Wh) on the hamster. I might gander to say until you know what your line carries (if it's not pedigreed) to only use solid cream, as Wh will show up as roan. As I don't use cd in my breeding, and it's not really up here, I would wait for some more comprehensive answers on that.

Originally Posted by Pinkpandavt

Actually it was very helpful!
Also While I am asking about Genetics!
The DS gene...Can that be put on any color?
Like are there DS BEC, or DS torts, and so on?
I have only ever really seen mostly white hams with Black spots.
Thanks!

Ds can be crossed onto any other. On torts it often shows poorly, as it removes colour and takes away the yellow spots, so on a very poorly marked tort you may not know the full phenotype even, unless you are looking carefully. I have seen Ds on all varieties of cream, golden, yellow, black, cinnamon, and I'm sure there's more.

[alyzimm]

Originally Posted by Pinkpandavt

Actually it was very helpful!
Also While I am asking about Genetics!
The DS gene...Can that be put on any color?
Like are there DS BEC, or DS torts, and so on?
I have only ever really seen mostly white hams with Black spots.
Thanks!

You probably already know this, but just in case

You mentioned that you've seen "white hams with Black spots". If you're saying that about Ds, it's technically the other way around. Ds makes white patterns on whatever base coat is used. You could have a Ds golden, where the wild type hamster has white splatters all over its body. Ds makes the white.

Anyway, you probably knew that

To your original question, you really can go anywhere. Genes in hamsters don't vary much from the "original" wild type, so colors can change quickly.

But even more importantly than colors is looking at the hamster's health and type. Health you should be perfect to the best of your knowledge before breeding The spacing of his ears, eyes, size of his head, shape of his body, etc. contribute to "type". A good type typically contributes to strong, healthy hamsters.

[jemmalg]

Originally Posted by Pinkpandavt

alright awesome, Thanks Hekomi!!
I was just wondering what would be the best colors to breed a DEW to?
I am guessing solids such as blacks, cinnies, Greys?

Depends what you want to breed for! If you want to breed whites, dark eared whites are single-recessive, true breeding - unless both carry cinnamon which will also give you FEWs. You can also breed to a c(d) carrier, which would give you 50% DEW. Breeding to a non-carrier will just give you c(d) carriers. DEW masks other colours too, for example my DEW male was genetically a Silver Grey, so breeding him would give Silvers, carrying c(d). As Hekomi says though, unless you know the backgrounds, they can mask Wh too.

[jemmalg]

Originally Posted by alyzimm

You mentioned that you've seen "white hams with Black spots". If you're saying that about Ds, it's technically the other way around. Ds makes white patterns on whatever base coat is used. You could have a Ds golden, where the wild type hamster has white splatters all over its body. Ds makes the white.

Hmm, the ideal showing Dom spot is predominantly white with coloured patches, although it does vary to poorer markings...

[Pinkpandavt]

Originally Posted by alyzimm

You probably already know this, but just in case

You mentioned that you've seen "white hams with Black spots". If you're saying that about Ds, it's technically the other way around. Ds makes white patterns on whatever base coat is used. You could have a Ds golden, where the wild type hamster has white splatters all over its body. Ds makes the white.

Anyway, you probably knew that

Haha Yeah I did know that I just have always seen it as the hamster looking white with mostly black spots all over. Lol
Didn't mean to confuse anybody!

And thanks so much for the answers Everyone! They all really Helped!

[Pinkpandavt]

Originally Posted by Hekomi

Above question - personally I'd cross them to solid selfs. The DEW can mask patterns (including Wh) on the hamster. I might gander to say until you know what your line carries (if it's not pedigreed) to only use solid cream, as Wh will show up as roan. As I don't use cd in my breeding, and it's not really up here, I would wait for some more comprehensive answers on that.

If the hamster parent doesn't carry the Wh gene would it be ok to breed him/her to a patterned hamster that also for sure doesn't carry the Wh gene?
Just curious!
So For Example:
I have a black banded who doesn't carry the Wh gene
and a Black DS who also doesn't carry the Wh gene for sure.
Would it be ok ethically to breed these two together?

Thanks!