Pearl gene

The Pearl gene, also known as the "Barlink factor," is a dilution gene that somewhat resembles the cream gene and the champagne gene, but is neither. It is a somewhat rare dilution gene found in the American Quarter Horse, American Paint Horse, and Peruvian Paso. [http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/coatcolorhorse.php" Introduction to Coat Color Genetics"] "from" Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed March 27, 2008] [ [http://newdilutions.com/pearl/Paso/index.htm "The (Peruvian) Paso dilution"] Web page accessed Mar h 28, 2008.] The same mutation appears in Iberian horse breeds such as the Lusitano, Andalusian. The existence of the pearl gene in Quarter Horses and Paints is probably because these breeds have some Iberian ancestors.

It is a recessive gene. If there is only one copy of the gene, it has no effect on black, bay or chestnut horses. If there are two copies, it lightens red coats to a pale, uniform apricot color that includes body, mane and tail and creates pale skin. Because of this effect, when research was underway to locate the specific gene involved, it was at one time referred to as the "apricot" gene. [ [http://www.newdilutions.com/pearl/ "New dilutions: Pearl"] web page accessed March 27, 2008] ]

The Pearl gene is also known to interact with the cream gene to enhance its effects and, in horses with only one copy of the cream allele, to create "pseudo-double dilutes" sometimes called pseudo-cremellos or pseudo-smoky cream. A pseudo-double dilute will often have pale skin and blue or green eyes. It is difficult if not impossible to tell a double cream dilute from a Pearl-cream pseudo dilute without genetic testing.

In the American Paint Horse breed, the dilution was called the "Barlink factor" because it was linked to a mare named My Tontime, [ [http://www.homozygous-horses.com/pearl.html "Homozygous horses:Pearl"] Web page accessed March 27, 2008] and her grandson, the stallion Barlink Macho Man, a chestnut splashed white overo. [ [http://painthorselegends.googlepages.com/genetics "Paint horse legends: Genetics] Web page accessed March 27, 2008] Initially, the gene in Paints and Quarter Horses was thought to be a different allele than that in the Iberian breeds, but research demonstrated that it was the same gene.

ee also

*Dilution gene
*Cream gene
*Equine coat color genetics

References