All About Bernedoodle Colours!

Under construction!

The domesticated dog comes in a dizzying array of sizes, shapes, colours, patterns and coat types.  No other domesticated animal has such a varied genome.  

If you are interested in the science of colour genetics in the domesticated dog and how this directly affects the Bernedoodle, read on!  I will try to make this a simple as possible!

Basic Terminology

Gene - the instructions that tell a cell what to do
Locus - location of a gene
Allele - variant of a gene
Phenotype - what the dog looks like on the outside
Genotype - genes the dog possess 
Heterozygous - a dog possessing 2 different alleles
Homozygous - a dog possessing 2 of the same allele

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The Basics

Genes are like an instruction book for DNA to follow.  Genes determine EVERYTHING in living beings: Size, shape, gender, etc.... and of course colour!  

Genes come together in long strands of DNA.  Particular points are called a locus (think location).  At each locus you will find a pair of alleles.  Each allele in the pair was provided to the dog by each one of their parents; one allele from the mother and one allele from the father.  At each locus there could be several genes possible, but any living individual can only have 2 of how ever many genes there are to choose from, and they can only get what their parent gives them.  If the parent does not possess the gene, it is impossible for the offspring to acquire it. 

There are MANY locii - identified and unidentified.  There are also many alleles that are identified and ones that are still undiscovered, but there are assumptions made in these cases that may, in the future, prove to be correct or debunked.