Melanotic
Allele symbol Ml.
Contents
Etymology and Discovery
Status
Well accepted.
Revertant of other mutation/allele?
Sexlinked or autosomal?
Autosomal. Chromosomally linked to Db and Pg at 20 mapunits (cM=centiMorgan) each.
Degree of dominance
Incomplete dominant; see also Heterozygosity.
Phenotypic effect
Boosts eumelanin expression eg on (lower) hackle and (upperside of) the body. Shifts the black towards the edge of the feather, causing a half moon spangle/incomplete lace. Important, but not exclusive, factor to create solid eumelanin chickens, especially roosters.
chick down
Probably noticeable as darkened, but mostly combined with other genes. Testerlines not commonly known. Columbian may cause dramatic change in expression eg. compare quail d'anver and wildfarbig german bantam. See also charcoal
rooster
On its own not very conspicuous. But generally darker.
hen
Strong expression on hackle and upper body (back). Quail like (the chicken color).
Heterozygosity
The stronger a melanizer the e-locus base of the chicken is, the more powerful are the effects of one dose of Ml. Hardly dominant on a wheaten base.
Epistatics
Role in certain complex phenotypes
- Double Laced
- Single Laced including or excluding the tail
- Spangled as in silver spangled Hamburgh
- Quail
- Self/Solid
