Chameleon genetics, and a random question.

[sharlaxle]

Ok, so while I have read quite a bit about breeding, there doesn't seem to be much about the actual passing on of colors through genetics. Being of a scientific mind, this is frankly driving me batty.
Here is the first question for those of you who have bred, what colorations are genetically dominant? For example crossing a red bar amilobe with a blue bar, does one color seem to prevail? If you cross two nosey be's one dark cobalt, with a light blue female carrier is it a case of one coloration being dominant or does it seem to be. a incomplete dominance issue?
For my random question can you ship an egg?
I'll be honest I am thinking (and have approached my professors at school) about doing a chameleon genetics study for my grad thesis. They are excited about it as it seems no one has apparently done one before. No chameleon would be injured in any way, and I would keep the little wonders after the project was over. Can you say win win situation? Lol. But in order to do so I would have to start with pure bred documented eggs. Not quite sure if I can ship them.
Well those are the questions. Thanks for any responses.
Sharl

 

[pssh]

I shipped some eggs without issue. Though only one hatched successfully out of three. I believe one pipped but never made it out.

As for colors, it's hard to tell. With ambilobes/ambanjas you can get a completely different bar color from the parents (red X red = blue, etc) All of the babies may have a general set of colors or they may all be very, very different colored. It's not like leopard geckos and ball pythons where there are tons of recessive, co-dominant and dominant traits going on.

 

[nany2204]

It's not like leopard geckos and ball pythons where there are tons of recessive
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virtual assistant

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Chameleon genetics are not that simple unfortunately. There are probably many, many genes that have to combine in certain ways associated with what patterns and colors they will express. It would be great if you could do more research into it!! There is so little a tally known about it. I would contact some of the big breeders as they have been doing is a long time trying to get reliable results in their offspring. They would probably have some great info to get you started!

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

I'd look through the sponsors, they've probably bred plenty of chameleons, they might have some tips or pointers.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

The thing is, breeders rarely keep all 30-50 hatchlings to adult, and just as rarely ever see pics from the people they sold em to.

Unlike the above mentioned species, where breeders will have racks and racks of bins from f1, f2....f20 in their stock lines.

Also, in all the other species mentioned above.....the females show traits. In all the locales of panther chameleons, all females generally look the same. This makes it extremely difficult to tell what color genes were carried over to the females.

I would argue that populations are the color they are because of extensive inbreeding within the locale's community over the centuries until certain traits became more dominant. It's interesting that on the islands of Madagascar you get the most uniform colors. (Nosy Be=blue, Nosy Mitsio=green)....

It's more like the differences between the ethnicity of people. There are more red haired people in Ireland and Scotland, the people of South India have much darker skin than in the North. Chinese vs Japanese. Aztec vs American Indian. You can easily see the difference between Eastern European and Western European.

This is interesting to me as well, there are so many unknowns as you mentioned. I hope you figure it out!

 

[sharlaxle]

Well as much as I would love to run this genetic research, it won't happen.
There is no way the board will agree to fund the purchase of 8 eggs at 200- 300 each.
Sad for me. I hope someday someone does start to research this. It will lead to other research that could truly help this amazing species.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

I'm sure if you asked you could get 8 eggs for very cheap from willing members.

 

[sharlaxle]

I did think about that. I know people put their heart and souls into these little guys and I don't want to offend them but asking for "cheap" eggs. I don't want to offend anyone, I just can't afford to put that kind of money into a grad project when the board funds one if in their price range.. What do you guys think? Would it offend people if I asked for eggs with genetic backgrounds as far as people have tracked them? I would need 2 males and 2 females ( hence the 8 eggs to allow for unhatched and same sex offspring) to do the experiment. This is what the board asked for. If I can get the eggs myself the board will buy the environments/ feeders/ and supplies.
Thanks for the thoughts, science I can understand , people not so much and I like the information I get off of this forum way too much to offend everyone.
Sharl