Leopard Gecko Morphs and Genetics (Eublepharis macularius)
Author: Richard BrooksVarious color patterns have been around now for some time. These geckos are the outcome of selective breeding and recessive genes, which have been passed on to their offspring. By carefully selecting pairs of geckos with natural, unique qualities, those geckos have a chance to carry that trait over to new hatchlings. By taking hatchlings from different clutches that carry the same trait, you can slowly increase the trait and its appearance by breeding those individuals and repeating the process. As hatchlings are born with a more prominent display of these features, they are selectively bred with other geckos with just as much or more of that same feature. Over time through this method of breeding, that trait becomes a genetic trademark and dominates the other genes. Thus creating the morphs on the market today.
There are large varieties of available morphs to choose from now. Breeders have taken to the demands of the public and are breeding these morphs out of their homes. Many are still trying to create new and unusual geckos. Through time and patience, we will see new and exciting morphs becoming available.
There are a number of terms that are used when people are referring to morphs and patterns of geckos. As you look into the purchasing of a specific morph, it is good to know the terminology so that you understand completely what it is you are purchasing. Here is a listing of the more common terms used. Use this listing as a reference when you decide to purchase your gecko.
LINE BRED TRAIT =
Line bred traits are non-recessive traits. Various geckos are line bred in chance of producing babies of the same characteristics. An example of this is the snow leopard gecko. When two snow phase leopard geckos are bred against each other, it is not 100% guaranteed that the offspring would be snow phase leopard geckos.GENETIC TRAIT =
Genetic traits are genes that are passed on from parent to offspring. These traits can be bred out of a reptile with the use of selective breeding. They can also be maintained by using the same selective breeding method. The term het came from animals that appeared to skip this trait, yet down the line produced this trait in their offspring. Though they appeared as normal phase geckos, they were "het" for a particular morph and when bred against another gecko with that gene, their offspring displayed this morph.HET =
Het is the abbreviated word for heterozygous. This term is a reference for an animal that carries a less dominant or recessive trait but appears "normal". An example of this would be a normal phase leopard gecko that is het for albino. This means that although this gecko is a normal phase gecko, it carries the genes to produce albinism in its offspring.DOUBLE HET =
Double het geckos are unique and carry two genetic traits but appear as normal. An example would be if you were to breed a gecko that is het for albinism against a pattern less gecko. Some of the offspring that is born "normal" could carry both the albinism trait as well as the pattern less trait. This makes them double het for albinism and pattern less.POSSIBLE HET =
This is commonly seen on the internet. It simply means that there is a chance that the gecko in question could be het for a particular morph. This happens when a normal phase gecko is bred against a gecko that is het for a trait such as albinism. There is a chance that the recessive trait was passed on by the het gecko, or that the normal phase has suppressed that trait and the reptile does not carry the recessive trait at all.POSSIBLE DOUBLE HET =
A term that is used for a gecko that may carry two recessive genes and yet only displays the colorations of a normal phase gecko.DOMINANT RECESSIVE =
This term means that the recessive gene is dominant! When this recessive gene is bred against another gecko with the same recessive gene, all the offspring will have this trait.An example of this would be if you were to breed two albino geckos together. All the babies would be born albino.Determining if my gecko is het for a specific trait
The only way to establish if a gecko is 100% het for a trait is to breed it against another gecko that carries that trait. You could also have blood work done on both the gecko in question as well as the supposed father. DNA would help to determine the geckos genetic makeup.
Now that you know some of the terminology associated with the complex world of genetics and morph phase geckos, here are some visual examples for you to see. These may help you to better understand how the genetic makeup of the gecko reflects upon the offspring.
For these examples, we have predetermined that all of the hets are for albinism. These examples hold true though for any recessive trait.
X = bred against
NORMAL X NORMAL
All offspring produced by 2 normal phase geckos will be normal.NORMAL X HET
50% of the offspring are het50% of the offspring are normal
All of the offspring will appear as normal.
HET X ALBINO
50% of the offspring are het50% of the offspring are albino
This type of breeding is an absolute way to guarantee that the gene carries on. Those geckos that are born "normal" are guaranteed to have the recessive genes that cause albinism.
HET X HET
25% of the offspring are normal25% of the offspring are albino
50% of the offspring are het
By breeding 2 het for albino geckos together, you give yourself a 1 in 4 chance of producing an albino offspring. Those that appear as normal are often referred to as 66% possible het. That is because there is a 2 in 3 chance that they carry the recessive gene for albinism.
Reprint Permission Courtesy Of The Reptile Information Database.
The original article can be found here: Leopard Gecko Caresheet Index
