Today, let's talk about almond pigeons and the genetic factors that influence their appearance. Almond is a sex-linked trait in pigeons, which means that it is located on the sex chromosomes. In pigeons, males have two Z chromosomes, while females have a Z chromosome or a W chromosome. The almond gene is located on the Z chromosome.
As a sex-linked trait, the inheritance of almond in pigeons follows a different pattern depending on the sex of the bird. Male pigeons can be either homozygous almond (St/St) or heterozygous almond (St/+), while female pigeons can only be homozygous almond (St/.).
This is because male pigeons inherit one copy of the almond gene from each parent, while female pigeons only inherit one copy from their father.
When a pigeon carries one copy of the almond gene, and with certain desired modifier genes it typically exhibits a pale, creamy-colored body and darker-colored wing and
tail feathers.
There are multiple factors that affect the distribution and intensity of the pigment in the feathers. Two such modifier genes are recessive red (rr) and spread (S), which can enhance the almond coloration and create the classic almond appearance.
Pigeons that inherit two copies of the recessive red gene have a reduced amount of black pigment in their feathers, which can enhance the almond coloration. Similarly, pigeons that inherit two copies of the spread gene have a wider patches of color across their wing and tail feathers, making the almond pattern more distinct.
It's worth noting that there are also variations in the almond pattern, including stipple almond. Stipple almond (sometimes mistakenly called Homozygous Almond) pigeons exhibit a mottled or speckled appearance rather than a smooth and distinct almond pattern.
This variation is caused by the presence of additional modifier genes that affect the distribution and intensity of the almond coloration.
In conclusion, almond is a sex-linked trait in pigeons that is influenced by other genetic factors, including modifier genes like recessive red and spread. These genes can enhance the almond coloration and create the classic almond appearance, which is highly valued by pigeon fanciers.
Lets hope this article has been informative and helpful, you're encouraged to continue learning about the fascinating world of pigeon genetics!