![]() Biology Dept Kenyon College |
with thanks to Amy's Peacock Paradise and Peafowl Photo Gallery |
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Gregor Mendel crossed peas. Suppose
instead he
crossed peafowl?
Peacocks and peahens show extraordinary complexity of plumage. One allele of one gene can alter the entire pattern in unexpected ways--and still show simple Mendelian inheritance. Examples:
Cameo (Zc) is Z-linked recessive to
wild type
(Z+) (usually India Blue)
White (T) is codominant with India Blue (B).
|
"India Blue" (wild type) -- Female |
![]() "India Blue" (wild type) -- Male |
"Black Shoulder" -- Female bb Recessive to BB India Blue |
bb Recessive |
"Cameo" female Z-linked (sex-linked, male ZZ) |
![]() "Cameo" male (young) Z-linked (sex-linked, male ZZ) |
![]() "White" female TT Courtesy of: Robert E. McDade Jr., Milledgeville, GA |
![]() "White" male TT Courtesy of: Robert E. McDade Jr., Milledgeville, GA |
"Java Green" female (subspecies) Courtesy of: Pavo muticus conservation project |
"Java Green" male (subspecies) Courtesy of: Pavo muticus conservation project |