All,

I think both Gene and Steve are right about this in a
way. As I understand it, Blue Geese do not arise from
a single gene mutation. Rather, white geese do.

The white is a recessive trait for lack of
pigmentation and represents null mutations in the
pathway for pigmentation. There are multiple ways in
which these genes can be modified rendering them null.
Depending upon where in the pathway they are rendered
null there are varying degrees of pigmentation. The
earlier in the pigmentation pathway that this happens
the more white the geese are. Thus it is also
unlikely that mutations would occur to render pigment
precursers viable again.

Michael Dossett
Corvallis, Oregon
Phainopepla at yahoo.com

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