Color Codes
The color genetics on a Himalayan are some of the simpler ones to remember. Like all other breeds, the color genetics is affected by several genes: a(self), B(Black or Brown), chch(Himalayan gene), D(dense or dilute), E(full color extension, though this may be of some debate). You only ever need to think about two genes (B and D) since the rest breed true. **The A, C and E genes have more codes but for simplicity’s sake, I narrowed it down to the codes that pertain to Himalayan color genetics**
The B gene indicates if a color is black based or brown based. For this purpose, B = Black and b = brown. Brown is recessive to black. Black can carry brown. Brown, however, cannot carry black.
The D gene indicates whether a color is dense = D or dilute = d. Dense can carry dilute but dilute cannot carry dense.
The black-based colors are Black and Blue. The chocolate-based colors are Chocolate and Lilac. Your dense, or non-dilute, colors are Black and Chocolate. The dilute colors are Blue and Lilac. Black and Blue are both Black except Blue also has two dilute genes. This is the same with Chocolate and Lilac.
Here is a breakdown of the genetics of each color by dense and dilute colors. **Please note that test breeding for complete dominance is never one hundred percent accurate:
Dense Colors:
• BBDD – Black not carrying chocolate or dilute. This is the most dominant. There is no way to test breed for complete dominance with one hundred percent accuracy.
• BbDD – Black carrying chocolate.
• BBDd – Black carrying dilute.
• BbDd – Black carrying both chocolate and dilute.
• bbDD – Chocolate not carrying dilute.
• bbDd – Chocolate carrying dilute.
Dilute Colors:
• BBdd – Blue not carrying chocolate.
• Bbdd – Blue carrying chocolate.
• bbdd – Lilac. Lilac is the most recessive.
The B gene indicates if a color is black based or brown based. For this purpose, B = Black and b = brown. Brown is recessive to black. Black can carry brown. Brown, however, cannot carry black.
The D gene indicates whether a color is dense = D or dilute = d. Dense can carry dilute but dilute cannot carry dense.
The black-based colors are Black and Blue. The chocolate-based colors are Chocolate and Lilac. Your dense, or non-dilute, colors are Black and Chocolate. The dilute colors are Blue and Lilac. Black and Blue are both Black except Blue also has two dilute genes. This is the same with Chocolate and Lilac.
Here is a breakdown of the genetics of each color by dense and dilute colors. **Please note that test breeding for complete dominance is never one hundred percent accurate:
Dense Colors:
• BBDD – Black not carrying chocolate or dilute. This is the most dominant. There is no way to test breed for complete dominance with one hundred percent accuracy.
• BbDD – Black carrying chocolate.
• BBDd – Black carrying dilute.
• BbDd – Black carrying both chocolate and dilute.
• bbDD – Chocolate not carrying dilute.
• bbDd – Chocolate carrying dilute.
Dilute Colors:
• BBdd – Blue not carrying chocolate.
• Bbdd – Blue carrying chocolate.
• bbdd – Lilac. Lilac is the most recessive.