Mutations

What is a mutation?

A color mutation in birds refers to a genetic change that alters the pigmentation of feathers, skin, or other tissues, resulting in different colors or patterns than those typically seen in the species. These mutations can affect various pigments or structural colors, leading to variations like lutino (yellow with red eyes), or pied (irregular patches of color). Color mutations can occur naturally or be selectively bred for in captivity, and they contribute to the diversity of appearance in cockatiels, making them particularly appealing to enthusiasts and breeders.

01 Normal Grey

02 Recessive

03 Sex-Linked

04 Odd Colours

01 Normal Grey

To understand how truly important and unique the normal grey cockatiel is it is important to understand the theory behind what is called a ‘mutation‘. Normal Grey Cockatiels are what is referred to as the ‘Wild-type’ Cockatiel colour. They are not a mutation.

02 Recessive Mutations

Recessive inheritance is a genetic principle where a trait or characteristic is expressed only when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, one inherited from each parent. If an individual has just one dominant allele and one recessive allele, the dominant trait will be expressed, masking the presence of the recessive one. This mode of inheritance is significant in understanding genetic mutations and variations in traits, as carriers of a recessive allele may not show it visually but can pass it on to their offspring.

03 Sex-linked Mutations

Sex-linked inheritance refers to the pattern of genetic inheritance that is associated with genes located on the sex chromosomes, particularly the X and Y chromosomes. (referred to as Z and W in birds).In species where sex is determined by these chromosomes, traits linked to the X chromosome can exhibit different inheritance patterns in males and females. For example, since females have one X and one Y chromosome (XY), they will express any trait linked to the X chromosome, whether it is dominant or recessive. Males, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes (XX), so they may be carriers of a recessive trait without expressing it if the other X carries a dominant allele. This can lead to unique phenotypic ratios in offspring, where certain traits may be more prevalent in one sex than the other, highlighting the influence of sex-linked genes on inheritance.

04 Odd Colours

A half-sider (or “half-sider cockatiel”) is a term used to describe a genetic mutation or condition in cockatiels that results in asymmetrical feather coloration. Essentially, it refers to a cockatiel that has two distinct color patterns on either side of its body, often with one side of the bird being a different color or pattern than the other. This unique and striking appearance occurs due to a genetic anomaly affecting feather pigmentation during development.

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