Dusky Gene dominant or recessive?

[FenrisMau]

I have a sweet drake, he's my special angel! We have an Ancona duck flock, but he was born with the dusky gene. The only signs of Ancona that show through is his apex wing feathers are pure white, and his neck collar is exaggerated.

If I was to let him breed, would his dusky gene likely show through? I won't breed him if that is the case.
(Photo of wing spread was when he was a bit younger)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If I was to let him breed, would his dusky gene likely show through?

You might be able to make some determinations with answers offered in the following link..

https://www.duskyfeatherswaterfowl.com/gene-index

Another article that discusses color patterns..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mallard-derived-duck-color-genetics-basics.74277/

Reading through both of those.. I would have *thought* the dusky gene would have eliminated his neck ring rather than exaggerating it.. but they also indicate that the gene can be effected by other genes present.. so it's possible I'm missing something.

You may be able to tag the writer of that article for direct interaction by placing @ in front of their user name with no spaces.

Best wishes!

 

[Skyle]

Dusky is a recessive gene, but it's not the cause he is lacking the white and black Ancona pattern.

Ancona color is made by extended black (E), is a dominant gene that makes the bird look black and so "covers" the pattern underneath.
Black and white Anconas are made by heterozygous E, with both the white bib and the runner pattern genes.

If you breed him with another Ancona, you will get 50% of the offspring that has the black and white pattern and the other 50% will be dusky or mallard with white, depending if the females also carry the dusky or not underneath the black.

If you are talking about the dusky itself (the fact he is not mallard-color), yes, it's recessive. But that means it could show up in the next generations if you use him as a breeder, as you will not know who is carrying it.

 

[FenrisMau]

You might be able to make some determinations with answers offered in the following link..

https://www.duskyfeatherswaterfowl.com/gene-index

Another article that discusses color patterns..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mallard-derived-duck-color-genetics-basics.74277/

Reading through both of those.. I would have *thought* the dusky gene would have eliminated his neck ring rather than exaggerating it.. but they also indicate that the gene can be effected by other genes present.. so it's possible I'm missing something.

You may be able to tag the writer of that article for direct interaction by placing @ in front of their user name with no spaces.

Best wishes!

This helps alot, thank you!!

 

[FenrisMau]

Dusky is a recessive gene, but it's not the cause he is lacking the white and black Ancona pattern.

Ancona color is made by extended black (E), is a dominant gene that makes the bird look black and so "covers" the pattern underneath.
Black and white Anconas are made by heterozygous E, with both the white bib and the runner pattern genes.

If you breed him with another Ancona, you will get 50% of the offspring that has the black and white pattern and the other 50% will be dusky or mallard with white, depending if the females also carry the dusky or not underneath the black.

If you are talking about the dusky itself (the fact he is not mallard-color), yes, it's recessive. But that means it could show up in the next generations if you use him as a breeder, as you will not know who is carrying it.

Amazing explanation. Thank you!