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Introductory Animal Genetics
Animal Science 221

Epistasis: Dominant Epistatic Gene

In horses, W is an allele that produces white coats in the heterozygote (Ww) but is lethal when homozygous. The allele w allows expression of color when homozygous. At a second locus, E is a dominant allele for black and e a recessive allele that when homozygous produces chestnut. Black and chestnut can only be expressed when the animal is ww at the other locus. The following relationship exists.

WW Lethal (not observed)

WwE- White
Wwee

wwE- Black

wwee Chestnut

What is the expected progeny ratio for each of the following matings:

1.
WwEe x WwEe
 White
Black
Chestnut
2.
WwEe x wwee

 White
Black
Chestnut



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