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Coat colour in dogs is controlled by a wide range of different genes working together.
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Specifications
| Breeds | |
|---|---|
| Gene | |
| specimen | Swab, Blood EDTA, Blood Heparin, Semen, Tissue |
| Mode of Inheritance | |
| Chromosome | |
| Also known as | |
| Year Published |
General information
Coat colour in dogs is controlled by a wide range of different genes working together. These genes are often referred to as ‘loci’. The Agouti locus (A-locus) is a genetic location in dogs that is regulating the distribution and balance of the two main pigments in the coat; eumelanin (black or brown pigment) and phaeomelanin (red or yellow pigment). This locus is associated with the Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) gene, which influences how and where these pigments are deposited in the hair.
The Agouti protein works by interacting with the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes (cells that produce pigment). When activated, ASIP switches the production of dark eumelanin to light phaeomelanin, leading to the characteristic coat patterns seen in many dog breeds. This only influences animals that can produce dark pigmentation, which is dependend on the E-locus.
Clinical features
The Agouti locus plays a crucial role in producing various coat patterns, contributing to the diversity of coat colors and patterns observed in dog breeds. Within this test four patterns can be distinguished: Agouti (banded hairs), Solid Black (black hairs), Tan Points (light and dark areas), Yellow/Fawn (mainly light hairs).
Additional information
Coat colour is an intricate trait that involves a combination of multiple different genes. Testing for a range of different loci will give the most complete prediction of a dog's coat colour genetics.
References
Pubmed ID:
Omia ID: 201