Conversion Table for the Simple Recessive Red Coat Color Gene of the Alaskan Malamute

      The  gene that controls the red coat color expression in the Alaskan Malamute is called a simple recessive gene. In a simple recessive gene there are only two expressions for a particular trait ( Ex. Red Coat Color ). A dog receives the expression for red coat color from its father or from its mother or from both its father and its mother.
      There are three possible genetic combinations for the simple recessive red coat color gene that any purebred Alaskan Malamute can carry and exhibit.

      1. The first genetic possibility " NN " is your dog does not carry the genetic coding for the red coat color expression, which means that your dog has not received the red coat color gene from either of its parents. Therefore he or she  is homozygous for not carrying the red coat color gene.

      2. The second genetic possibility " Nr "  is your dog carries the genetic coding for the red coat color expression but  does not physically exhibit  red coat color, which means your dog has received the red coat color gene from only one of its parents, not both! Therefore he or she  is heterozygous for the red coat color gene.

      3. The third genetic possibility " r r "  is your dog carries the genetic coding  for the red coat color expression an  physically exhibits  red coat color, which means your dog has received the red coat color gene from both of its parent. Therefore he or she is homozygous for the red coat color gene.

      In order to determine the " PROBABLE " genetic results from matings of the above three genetic variations you can use a graph called the Punnett Square.What will be shown using the Punnett Square are the results from the different breeding combinations of the 1st , 2nd and  3rd  variations.On the left side of the Punnett square you will see the three genetic variations in the squares labeled  A, B, and  C and on the top you will see the three genetic variations in the squares labeled  D, E, and  F. In order to use the Punnett Square all you have to do is match a variation on the left side with a variation on the top and go to the point where they meet and that will give you the  "PROBABLE"  genetic results in percentages that you can expect to get in a reasonably good size litter of puppies.

For example:       The Variation in the  A  square " r r "  x  The Variation in the  D  square
" NN " =  the results in square number  # 1.
                             The Variation in the  C  square " NN "  x  The Variation in the  F square 
" r r "   =  the results in square number  # 3.

     The following letter combinations represent the three genetic variations that influence whether your        dog carries or has the ability to pass on the red coat color gene to its offspring.      

1. " NN "  -The pair of   blue   capital letters " NN " will represent a dog that does not carry the red coat color gene therefore it cannot pass the red coat color gene  on to its offspring.

2. " Nr "    -The  blue  capital letter " N " in combination with the red  small letter " r " will represent a dog that  carries the red coat color gene that it received  from one of its parents but does not physically exhibit  red coat color and can pass the red coat color gene it on to its offspring.

 3. " r r "     -The pair of  red  small letters " r r " will represent a dog that  carries the red coat color gene that it received  from both of its parents and physically exhibits red coat color and will pass the red coat color gene on to all of  its offspring. 

Below is the Punnett Square with the results in percentages

The results are as follows:

                                  Cell  C x D = Cell # 1 results------>   100%  NN
                                  Cell  C x E = Cell # 2 results------>     50%   NN, 50% N r
                                  Cell  C x F = Cell # 3 results------>   100%   Nr
                                  Cell  B x D = Cell # 4 results------>     50%  NN,  50% Nr
                                  Cell  B x E = Cell # 5 results------>     25%   NN,  50% Nr,   25% r r 
                                  Cell  B x F = Cell # 6 results------>     50%   Nr,  50% r r
                                  Cell  A x D = Cell # 7 results------>  100%   Nr 
                                  Cell  A x E = Cell # 8 results------>     50%   Nr,  50% r r
                                  Cell  A x F = Cell # 9 results------>   100%  r r

        The most important thing you have to remember is that these results are based on a  large population of dogs ( 100 + puppies produced ) and that the results (percentages) won't necessarily be the same for any one individual litter. None the less, it will give you a good idea of the " PROBABLE "  results in percentages. This Punnett Square can be used for any simple recessive gene. For example it can be used to calculate the simple recessive long coat gene or the dwarfism gene found in Alaskan Malamutes. The resulting  percentages  would be exactly the same as the percentages for the red coat color gene because you are still  dealing with only three variations.  1. Non carrier of the gene. "NN " 2.Carrier of the gene but not physically exhibiting the expression. " Nr "   3. Carrier of the gene and physically exhibiting the expression  " r r " (  ex. red color, long coat, dwarf  ).

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