Genetic Tables for the American Hairless Terrier
Recessive Hairlessness
The American Hairless Terrier is unique among all hairless dog breeds
because it exhibits recessive hairlessness. Hairless parents can only
produce hairless offspring.
Other hairless dog breeds, Chinese Crested, Peruvian Inca Orchid, and
Xoloitzcuintli, all have dominant hairlessness (see
hairless breeds compare).
For breeding with coated carriers, these tables are only predictions.
You can never know for sure what Mother Nature decides to toss at you.
She doesn't follow percentages. :o)
Terms
Gene - the functional and physical unit of heredity passed from
parent to offspring; a small sequence of DNA determining certain
characteristics, occupies a fixed position on a chromosome
Allele - an alternate form of a gene, variants that occur at the
same locus; one of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a
single locus
Chromosome - a rod-shaped structure in a cell nucleus carrying the
genes that determine sex and the characteristics an organism inherits
from its parents; chromosomes occur in pairs, one from the mother and a
second from the father
Locus - physical site or location of a specific gene on a
chromosome
Genotype - the actual alleles present in an individual; describes
the genes of an individual; hh, HH or Hh
Phenotype - observable characteristics; describes the appearance of
a trait; hairless or coated
Dominant - producing the same phenotype whether its allele is
identical (HH coated) or dissimilar (Hh coated carrier); the expression
of a trait in the heterozygous condition, coated carrier (Hh)
Recessive - a mode of inheritance in which a gene must be present
from both parents for the trait to become manifested in an offspring;
both parents must carry the recessive hairlessness gene (h) and pass it
on to their pup (hh)
Homozygous - having the same allele at the same locus on a
chromosome; two recessive genes are paired (hh), or two dominant genes
are paired (HH)
Homozygous dominant - having dominant alleles at the same locus on
a chromosome; coated (HH), no recessive genes
Homozygous recessive - having recessive alleles at the same locus
on a chromosome, this in the only time a recessive trait will be
phenotypically (physically) seen; hairless (hh), no dominant genes
Heterozygous - having different alleles at the same locus on a
chromosome; a recessive (h) and a dominant (H) are paired (so the
dominant trait is observed); coated carrier (Hh)
Case 1
Parents: Hairless x Hairless
Puppies: 100% hairless (hh)
Genetic Tables for the American Hairless Terrier