Strains There are types of society finches that cannot be explained by single mutations or combinations of a few single mutations. Rather they are strains with inheritance patterns more similar to skin pigment in races in humans or height in any animal. For example, dilute birds can pop up but not in any known genetic ratio. Rather they are gradually selected from offpsring that are lighter. I have preliminary evidence, however, that the Japanese type of albino and the dilute chestnut lines (often called silvers) have a strong impact on pigment even in some splits. This is very confusing but appears to be true. I have gotten instant ultra dilute fawns when they have Japanese albino or diltute chestnut parents. This occurs by mating the most dilute birds within a color. The level of pigment must be inherited quantitatively and eventually you can isolate a population that does not have the ability to make lots of pigment. Clearwing birds are thought to be a strain of dilutes where the region of the wings cannot produce much pigment but the head and rump can. Again, it takes time to develop such strains. |
