Genetic bases for plumage color patterns in four varieties of Japanese quail

Four varieties of Japanese quail were compared with wild type to determine the color genes responsible for plumage colors. The Manchurian Golden variety was shown to possess the yellow color mutant Y, which is an autosomal dominant and an embryological lethal when homozygous. British Range quail possess an autosomal incomplete dominant gene for brown and black pigment extension into all feather areas as well as the feather's shaft. The gene symbol E is proposed to re place gene symbol B, which previously was assigned to two other traits. The English White variety possesses an autosomal recessive gene that produces an all-white phenotype. This gene when homozygous is epistatic to the previously mentioned E gene. The gene symbol wh is proposed for this gene to replace symbol w, which was previously assigned to another trait. English White quail are also homozygous for E, which they carry as a cryptomere. The Tuxedo variety possesses both the E and wh genes and this color pattern is the result of their complimentary action. It is homozygous for the E gene and heterozygous for the wh gene. Birds that are heterozygous for both of these genes have a shafted tuxedolike pattern.