Opaline paired with dark factor.

When breeding an Opaline Fischer's Lovebird with a Dark Factor Fischer's Lovebird, the resulting offspring will exhibit a mix of genetic traits. Here is a detailed explanation of the potential outcomes:

1.Coloration and Mutations:

Opaline:

The opaline mutation is recessive and results in a dilution of the body color with more vibrant feathers on the wings and back. Offspring need to inherit the opaline gene from both parents to express this trait.

Dark Factor:

The dark factor mutation is semi-dominant. Lovebirds can have one dark factor (single factor, SF) or two dark factors (double factor, DF), which affects the depth of the color. SF dark factor results in a darker shade of the base color, and DF dark factor results in an even deeper, more intense color.

2.Genetic Scenarios:

Case 1:

Opaline × Single Factor Dark (SF)

Offspring Colors:

- Green (split for opaline and dark factor)

- Green Opaline (if the opaline gene is expressed)

- Dark Green (if the single dark factor gene is expressed)

- Dark Green Opaline (if both opaline and single dark factor traits are expressed)

Case 2:

Opaline × Double Factor Dark (DF)

Offspring Colors:

- Green (split for opaline and dark factor)

- Green Opaline (if the opaline gene is expressed)

- Dark Green (if the double dark factor gene is expressed)

- Dark Green Opaline (if both opaline and double dark factor traits are expressed)

3.Breeding Outcomes:

1.Green Offspring (split for Opaline and Dark Factor):

- Dominant green coloration with some carrying one or both recessive genes.

2.Opaline Offspring (split for Dark Factor):

- Opaline coloration occurs when both parents carry the opaline gene. If the Opaline parent is homozygous and the other parent is heterozygous, some offspring will display the opaline trait.

3.Dark Green Offspring:

- If the Dark Factor parent carries a single or double dark factor, offspring will display darker shades of green, with the intensity depending on whether they inherit one or two dark factor genes.

4.Dark Green Opaline Offspring:

- For offspring to be Dark Green Opaline, they must inherit both the opaline and dark factor genes. This outcome depends on the presence of these genes in both parents.

4.Possible Genetic Combinations:

Homozygous Dominant:

(e.g., Green/Green) – Green offspring.

Heterozygous:

(e.g., Green/Opaline, Green/Dark Factor) – Green split for opaline or dark factor.

Homozygous Recessive:

(e.g., Opaline/Opaline, Dark Factor/Dark Factor) – Opaline or dark green offspring if both parents carry the gene.

Double Recessive:

(e.g., Opaline/Dark Factor) – Dark Green Opaline offspring if both recessive genes are present from both parents.

Example Genotypes:

1.Opaline Parent:

- Genotype: Opaline/Opaline (may or may not carry dark factor gene)

2.Dark Factor Parent:

- Genotype: Dark Factor (SF or DF)

Offspring Genotype and Phenotype Ratios:

Green:

(Green/Green, Green/Opaline, Green/Dark Factor) – Dominant green coloration, split for either or both recessive traits.

Opaline:

(Opaline/Opaline) – Opaline coloration, may carry the dark factor gene.

Dark Green:

(Dark Factor/SF or DF) – Dark Green coloration, intensity varies with single or double dark factor.

Dark Green Opaline:

(Opaline/Dark Factor) – Combination of opaline and dark factor traits, intensity varies.

Conclusion:

Breeding an Opaline Fischer's Lovebird with a Dark Factor Fischer's Lovebird will produce offspring with a mix of green, opaline, and dark green traits. The exact distribution will depend on whether each parent carries the gene for the other’s mutation. Green offspring will likely be split for opaline and dark factor, while the presence of both recessive genes in offspring will result in birds exhibiting both opaline and dark factor traits. Understanding the genetic makeup of both parents is essential for predicting precise outcomes.