Equine coat colour genetics
Okay, so you know how some horses have different colors like brown, black, white or even spots, right? Well, those colors come from something called genes. Just like you have genes from your mom and dad that determine your hair and eye color, horses have genes that determine their coat color.
Now, horses have two sets of genes, one from their mom and one from their dad. Some of these genes are what you call “dominant” and some are “recessive”. When a horse has two dominant genes for a certain coat color, then they will have that color. When a horse has two recessive genes for a certain coat color, then they will also have that color. However, when a horse has one dominant and one recessive gene for a certain coat color, things get a little more complicated.
Let’s take a look at black and chestnut coat colors for example. Black is a dominant color, which means if a horse has one or two black genes, it will be black. Chestnut, on the other hand, is a recessive color, which means that a horse needs two chestnut genes to be chestnut. So, if both of the horse’s parents are black, there’s a chance it will be too, since it could have received two dominant black genes. However, if one parent is black and one is chestnut, then the offspring could potentially receive one dominant black gene and one recessive chestnut gene. In this case, the horse will be black (since the dominant gene takes over) but it will carry the chestnut gene in its DNA.
Now, let’s talk about dilute colors. Dilute colors are colors that have a lighter shade than the original color, like palomino, buckskin, or cremello. These colors are caused by a different set of genes called the dilution genes. This gene is also recessive, meaning that the horse needs to inherit two copies of it to show a dilute color. If a horse only inherits one copy of the dilution gene, it will not have a dilute color but it will still be carrying the gene.
So there you have it! Just like how you got your hair color from your parents, horses also get their coat color from their parents’ genes, and the combination of those genes determines their beautiful and unique coat color.
Now, horses have two sets of genes, one from their mom and one from their dad. Some of these genes are what you call “dominant” and some are “recessive”. When a horse has two dominant genes for a certain coat color, then they will have that color. When a horse has two recessive genes for a certain coat color, then they will also have that color. However, when a horse has one dominant and one recessive gene for a certain coat color, things get a little more complicated.
Let’s take a look at black and chestnut coat colors for example. Black is a dominant color, which means if a horse has one or two black genes, it will be black. Chestnut, on the other hand, is a recessive color, which means that a horse needs two chestnut genes to be chestnut. So, if both of the horse’s parents are black, there’s a chance it will be too, since it could have received two dominant black genes. However, if one parent is black and one is chestnut, then the offspring could potentially receive one dominant black gene and one recessive chestnut gene. In this case, the horse will be black (since the dominant gene takes over) but it will carry the chestnut gene in its DNA.
Now, let’s talk about dilute colors. Dilute colors are colors that have a lighter shade than the original color, like palomino, buckskin, or cremello. These colors are caused by a different set of genes called the dilution genes. This gene is also recessive, meaning that the horse needs to inherit two copies of it to show a dilute color. If a horse only inherits one copy of the dilution gene, it will not have a dilute color but it will still be carrying the gene.
So there you have it! Just like how you got your hair color from your parents, horses also get their coat color from their parents’ genes, and the combination of those genes determines their beautiful and unique coat color.
Related topics others have asked about: