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. |