The piebald gene in dogs is actually recessive to the dominant non-white gene. This means that in order for a dog to have a piebald coat pattern, it must inherit two copies of the piebald gene, one from each parent. If a dog only inherits one copy of the piebald gene, it will be a carrier of the gene but will not exhibit the piebald coat pattern.
To explain this further, let’s consider the genotypes and phenotypes involved. The dominant non-white gene is represented by the letter S, while the recessive piebald gene is represented by the letter s. A dog’s genotype refers to the genes it carries, while its phenotype refers to the physical characteristics it displays.
If two piebald carrier dogs (Ss genotype) are mated, there are several possible outcomes for the puppies in terms of their genotype and phenotype. This is because each parent can pass on one of their two copies of the gene to each offspring.
There is a 25% chance that a piebald puppy will be born in the litter. This is because both parents must pass on their recessive piebald gene (s) to the puppy in order for it to have the piebald coat pattern.
Additionally, there is a 50% chance that a puppy will be a carrier of the piebald gene (Ss genotype). This is because each parent has a 50% chance of passing on their piebald gene to each offspring.
The remaining 25% of the puppies will have the non-white coat pattern (SS genotype) and will not carry the piebald gene. This is because they have inherited the dominant non-white gene from both parents.
It’s important to note that the piebald gene is not always expressed in a uniform manner. Some piebald dogs may have a mostly white coat with patches of non-white, while others may have more evenly distributed patches of white and non-white. The exact expression of the piebald gene can vary depending on other genetic factors and the individual dog’s unique genetic makeup.
The piebald gene in dogs is recessive to the dominant non-white gene. Two piebald carrier dogs (Ss genotype) have a 25% chance of producing a piebald puppy, a 50% chance of producing a piebald carrier, and a 25% chance of producing a non-white puppy that does not carry the piebald gene.