Recessive Color Genetics

More About Recessive Colors

Leucistic, albino, and creamino color variations are described in the older guide as simple recessive genes. In order for the color to be visible, the sugar glider must inherit the specific recessive trait from both parents.

If one parent passes the recessive trait and the other passes the dominant wild type trait, the offspring will look normal but is considered a het because the glider carries the gene.

• A = dominant standard gene.
• a = recessive color gene.

Punnett Square

Standard × Standard

This pairing produces standard sugar gliders 100% of the time. It does not produce visible color or hets in this simplified example.

Punnett Square

Het × Standard

This pairing does not produce visible color. About 50% of joeys are expected to be hets, and about 50% are expected to be standard without the recessive gene.

Punnett Square

Color × Standard

This pairing does not produce visible color, but 100% of joeys are expected to carry the recessive color gene as hets.

Punnett Square

Het × Het

This pairing can produce visible color 25% of the time, hets 50% of the time, and standards without the gene 25% of the time. Non-colored joeys from this pairing are often discussed as 66% possible hets.

Why 66% Possible Het Happens

In the Het × Het square, one of the four possible outcomes is visible color. If a joey is not visibly colored, that visual-color outcome is removed. Three non-colored possibilities remain: two are hets and one is standard without the gene. That makes the non-colored joey a 66% possible het.

Punnett Square

Color × Het

This pairing is expected to produce visible color 50% of the time and 100% hets 50% of the time. Because one parent is visual color, all offspring inherit the color gene.

Punnett Square

Color × Color

This pairing produces visible color 100% of the time in the simplified model. The older guide cautioned that color-to-color pairings are often not recommended because recessive color lines may be tightly bred and need responsible outbreeding.

Quick Guide

• Standard to Standard = Standard 100% of the time.
• Color to Standard = 100% hets.
• Color to Het = 50% color / 50% hets.
• Het to Het = 50% hets / 25% standard / 25% color. Non-colored joeys are often discussed as 66% possible hets.
• Color to Color = 100% color.

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