What is the white gene in dogs?

The gene causing the majority of white markings in dogs is known as MITF (Microphtalmia-Associated Transcription Factor). This gene causes white markings in a number of mammals and is often associated with blue eyes and deafness.

What is the piebald gene?

A pattern of less symmetrical white spotting, often called piebald, parti, or random white, is present in many breeds. A DNA variant has been found in Microphthalmia Associated Transcription Factor- (MITF) gene that is associated with piebald spotting in many breeds.

What is a recessive piebald gene?

Piebald gene is recessive to dominant S (non-white) gene. This means if two piebald carrier dogs are mated ( Ss genotype, non-white phenotype), there is a 25\% chance of a piebald cub occurring in the litter, and 50\% that the puppy will be a piebald carrier.

What is dog genetic predisposition?

Researchers at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found that dogs have a genetic predisposition to aggression directed towards an owner or a familiar dog; this fear and aggression is not the same as when those feelings are directed toward unfamiliar dogs and humans.

What does each chromosome do in dogs?

The nuclei of dog cells contain important genetic data. The dog has 39 pairs of chromosomes in each cell (39 from the mother and 39 from the father). One of these pairs determines the sex of the dog and the rest determine everything else that makes him or her unique.

Why is it called piebald?

Etymology. The word “piebald” originates from a combination of “pie,” from “magpie”, and “bald”, meaning “white patch” or spot. The reference is to the distinctive black-and-white plumage of the magpie.

What causes Piebalding?

Piebaldism is a condition commonly caused by a mutation in certain genes that causes a person to lack melanocytes or the cells responsible for pigmentation. The condition leads to the presence of white patches of skin or hair at birth, making people more at risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

What causes an animal to be piebald?

The mutated gene is known to be the main cause of piebald patterns. One leading theory held that the patterns were caused by the mutated Kit gene slowing down the migration of pigment cells. They found that even a small drop in the rate at which cells multiplied was enough to produce the characteristic white patches.

How can you tell if your dog is a piebald?

A piebald or pied animal is one that has a pattern of unpigmented spots (white) on a pigmented background of hair, feathers or scales. Thus a piebald black and white dog is a black dog with white spots. The animal’s skin under the white background is not pigmented.