what is the difference between masking and being split for a mutation
Michelle, your pair is absolutely beautiful!! :love:
I am sticking with what I said origionally for your hen, and the cock is definitely a sf goldenface, sky, opaline, sf spangle :)
Recessive pied can be carried in split or visual form, and your male must be split for the gene as your youngest chick does appear to be a recessive rather than a dominant pied from the markings I can see so far :)
When a bird is [I]split[/I] for a recessive mutation they are essentially carrying [I]one copy of the gene[/I], and genes of this nature typically need [I]two copies of the gene[/I] to show visually.
For example, for you to get a visual recessive pied chick, they need to get one gene from mom and one gene from dad. The same is true of greywings for example, you need both mom and dad to be split for the
When it comes to [I]masking[/I] a mutation however this is completely different :) There are only a few mutations that can actually [I]mask[/I], which are basically ino (albino/lutino) double factor spangle, and dark eyed clears.
When it comes to these mutations, they mask or cover up/elimate the markings you would expect to see if they were not there. They make the budgie all white or all yellow because basically all of the melanin or pigment has been removed from their feathers, does that make sense?
Because of this, you could easily have a budgie that is a sf spangle, but if they are also an albino you would not know it because the albino/ino mutation has removed all of the pretty spangle markings that would be there if they were not a ino. That is basically what [I]masking[/I] a mutation involves.
As far as the recessive pied gene goes however not all birds actually display any [I]physical characteristics[/I] to show they are split for this particular mutation. However, a small pied patch on the back of the head as well as very light or non-existent iris rings are very common in birds that are split for this mutation, and most of the ones I have personally do have these charisterics. Again though, this is [I]not nescisary[/I] for a budgie to be split for recessive pied ;)
I am sticking with what I said origionally for your hen, and the cock is definitely a sf goldenface, sky, opaline, sf spangle :)
Recessive pied can be carried in split or visual form, and your male must be split for the gene as your youngest chick does appear to be a recessive rather than a dominant pied from the markings I can see so far :)
When a bird is [I]split[/I] for a recessive mutation they are essentially carrying [I]one copy of the gene[/I], and genes of this nature typically need [I]two copies of the gene[/I] to show visually.
For example, for you to get a visual recessive pied chick, they need to get one gene from mom and one gene from dad. The same is true of greywings for example, you need both mom and dad to be split for the
When it comes to [I]masking[/I] a mutation however this is completely different :) There are only a few mutations that can actually [I]mask[/I], which are basically ino (albino/lutino) double factor spangle, and dark eyed clears.
When it comes to these mutations, they mask or cover up/elimate the markings you would expect to see if they were not there. They make the budgie all white or all yellow because basically all of the melanin or pigment has been removed from their feathers, does that make sense?
Because of this, you could easily have a budgie that is a sf spangle, but if they are also an albino you would not know it because the albino/ino mutation has removed all of the pretty spangle markings that would be there if they were not a ino. That is basically what [I]masking[/I] a mutation involves.
As far as the recessive pied gene goes however not all birds actually display any [I]physical characteristics[/I] to show they are split for this particular mutation. However, a small pied patch on the back of the head as well as very light or non-existent iris rings are very common in birds that are split for this mutation, and most of the ones I have personally do have these charisterics. Again though, this is [I]not nescisary[/I] for a budgie to be split for recessive pied ;)