The genetic relationship of the dark, jubilee and white plumage colorations of the Indian Game bantam.

Abstract

Synopsis The evidence derived from a genetical study of the plumage coloration of a stock of Indian Game bantams indicates that the three varieties differ one from the other in respect of the autosomal dominant gene 1. The Dark lacks the gene altogether, being ii in constitution, the Jubilee is heterozygous for it (Ii) and the White is homozygous (II). This gene is an incomplete dominant and affects the production of both black and red pigments, the black far more than the red. The degree of the density of the chestnut ground colour in the Dark and Jubilee varieties is determined by a number of modifying genes. It is possible by continued selection against this ground‐colour in the birds homozygous for the gene I to obtain a pure white bird, the white variety of the Indian (Cornish) Game.