How is my dog long or smooth?
The truth behind the fluff and stuff!
I get genetics can be a little confusing, so I will start with the basics.
Firstly, a bit of vocabulary:
Allele: 1 part of the gene, it takes two parts to make up a gene.
Gene: The DNA make up of an individual trait.
Genotype: the genes an individual has and can pass on to their progeny.
Trait/phenotype: What the individual looks like.
Dominant gene/allele: what an individual will express (look like)
Recessive gene/allele: what the individual can pass on regardless of their looks.
In Chihuahuas, any individual that has a Smooth coat allele, will have a smooth coat – no exception.
A chihuahua that is a long coat must have 2 long coat alleles/genes. There is no possibility that a chihuahua with a smooth coat gene can be seen as a long coat.
Hopefully the pics below will illustrate these words.
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