Dominant White of Chickens—Single or Multiple Factored?

Abstract

In many breeding experiments involving white varieties “Dominant White” is postulated as unifactorial genetically.Punnett (1923) cited data which supported a theory that there were at least two inhibitor genes for color that were necessary for the dominant white phenotype viz: the (I) gene inhibiting black and a Silver gene (S) inhibiting red. Henderson (1947) presented data which indicated that the “white” of a synthetic White Laced Red variety was the result of the presence of the “I” gene in most cases, although a few black and white barred individuals appeared in the F2 generation from the original White Leghorn-Dark Cornish cross. The white of the barred variants proved to be sex linked silver in subsequent breeding tests. It was suggested then, that mating of a Silver Laced variety with White Laced Reds should result in all white progeny in the F1 generation, and that such a result would confirm …