Phenotypes of A-/E- Gene Combinations

E-Gene

A-Gene

E(s)E

E(s)e(j)

E(s)e

E(s)E(s)

EE or Ee

Ee(j)

e(j)e(j)

e(j)e

ee

AA, Aa(t), or Aa **Phenotypical CORRECT GTS. No agouti markings and no agouti rings in the hair shaft. Black with possible alternating patches of ticking. ***Black with some possible ticking, that can come and go. Black. Some ticking could be possible. Chestnut Harlequinized Agouti Harlequin Harlequin - with agouti markings (eye circles, ear lacing). Orange, or Red (with addition of wide-band and rufus modifiers).
a(t)a(t) or a(t)a Black with ticking in the tan pattern areas.
Per Laura, "As kits they appear like agouti steels appear at first-- "almost" self-- some have lighter bellies at birth, some do not. Most develop the lighter belly, but how light it gets will vary. Their otter markings will have some amount of "occlusion"-- they might look like otters with smoky greyed/ticked otter markings, or they might look almost completely self. Steeled otters do not get ticking over their bodies in the areas typically "self looking" in a normal otter."
Harlequinized Otter, with possible alternating patches of ticking in tan pattern areas. Black with possible ticking in the tan pattern areas. Black Otter Harlequinized Otter Harlequin Tan Pattern Harlequin, possibly torted. Torted Otter
aa Black Black Black Black Black Black Harlequin Torted Harlequin Tort
**A knowledgeable Steel ND breeder contends that steels appearing brighter/more "chestnut" [or tweeners] are due to the effects of modifiers and being AAEsE. He believes a AaEsE provides a more moderate amount of ticking and darkens the bottom of the tail.
*** SOME commercial breeds seem to have modifiers that allow this genotype to appear as a properly expressed Steel. It does not seem to be the case with the Fancy breeds.