Rabbit Color Predictor
Simplified A-E Locus genetic analyzer
Select the genetic alleles to predict your rabbit's color. The AI will provide deep analysis of the inheritance patterns.
✅ What This Calculates + Why It Matters
The Rabbit Color Predictor is a sophisticated genetics tool designed for breeders, students, and rabbit enthusiasts. It analyzes the A-B-D-E Locus systems, which are the fundamental building blocks of rabbit coat color genetics. By selecting dominant or recessive alleles for Agouti, Black/Brown pigment, Color Dilution, and the Extension of pigment, this calculator predicts the "Phenotype" (physical appearance) and "Genotype" (genetic code) of a rabbit. This tool is essential for understanding how specific colors like Lilac, Blue, or Tortoiseshell are created at a molecular level.
Why is genetic prediction so critical? In rabbit breeding, especially for ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) or BRC standards, certain colors are highly prized while others are disqualifications. This tool allows breeders to "test-mate" on paper before choosing a breeding pair, ensuring that they are working toward a specific goal and minimizing the birth of "unshowable" colors. It demystifies the complexity of Mendelian genetics, making it accessible to anyone who wants to understand why their "black" rabbit might suddenly produce a "blue" kitten.
This calculator specifically focuses on the "Big Four" loci. While there are other modifiers (like the 'C' locus for albino/himalayan or the 'V' locus for vienna/blue-eyed white), the A-B-D-E combination determines over 80% of the common coat colors seen in pet and show breeds today. It serves as the "Primary Map" for any aspiring rabbit geneticist.
Phenotype vs. Genotype
A Phenotype is what you see with your eyes (e.g., a Black rabbit). A Genotype is the hidden code (e.g., aa B_ D_ E_). This tool bridge the gap, showing you how hidden recessive genes can "surprise" a breeder in future generations.
✅ The Loci Explained Simply
Each "Locus" (plural Loci) acts as a switch for a specific pigment pathway:
- A Locus (Agouti): Determines if hairs are solid or banded (Patterned vs. Solid).
- B Locus (Black/Brown): Determines the strength of the base pigment (Black vs. Chocolate).
- D Locus (Dilute): Determines if pigment granules are clumped (Full Color vs. Blue/Lilac).
- E Locus (Extension): Determines if the dark pigment covers the whole body or just the tips.
Genetic Hierarchy Rules:
- Uppercase (A, B, D, E): Dominant. Only one copy is needed to show the trait.
- Lowercase (a, b, d, e): Recessive. Two copies must be present to see the effect.
- Underscore (_): Indicates the second gene can be either dominant or recessive without changing the look.
✅ 3-5 Real-World Examples
Example 1: The "Wild" Rabbit (Black Agouti)
Code: A_ B_ D_ E_.
Phenotype: The classic brown/grey rabbit seen in nature. Every gene is in its dominant "on" state.
Example 2: The Soft Blue (Blue Self)
Code: aa B_ dd E_.
Phenotype: A solid grey/blue rabbit. The 'aa' makes it solid, and the 'dd' dilutes the black pigment into blue.
Example 3: The Rare Lilac (Lilac Self)
Code: aa bb dd E_.
Phenotype: A warm, pinkish-grey. This requires two recessive "switches" (bb and dd) to be turned off simultaneously.
✅ FAQ Section (Google PAA Targeted)
What is an "Agouti" rabbit?
Agouti is the "wild type" pattern. If you look closely at a single hair, it will have bands of color—usually a dark base, a light middle band, and a dark tip. This is what gives rabbits like the Flemish Giant or the wild Cottontail their "ticked" appearance.
How do I get a white rabbit with red eyes?
This is controlled by the C Locus (not in this calculator). A rabbit with 'cc' alleles is an albino (REW - Red Eyed White). This gene acts as a "mask," hiding whatever other colors (A, B, D, or E) are in the rabbit's genetic code.
What makes a "Tortoiseshell" rabbit?
A "Tort" is created by the non-extension gene (ee). This recessive gene prevents dark pigment from extending to the end of the hair shaft on most of the body, resulting in an orange/gold rabbit with darker "smut" on the nose, ears, and tail.
What is "Lilac" in rabbit genetics?
Lilac is the result of combining Chocolate (bb) and Dilute (dd). It is a recessive double-dilute. Because it requires two different sets of recessive genes to align, it was historically one of the harder colors to stabilize in many breeds.
✅ Related Calculators
✅ AI Explanation of Results
Our AI Genetics Analyst provides a "Pro-Breeder Insight" for every combination. It identifies Lethal Combinations (such as certain spotted genes like English Spotting 'EnEn' which can cause 'Megacolon') and warns of Hidden Carriers. For example, if you produce a Blue rabbit from two Black parents, the AI will flag that both parents are definitely "Carriers" of the dilute gene. This allows you to map out your entire herd's genetic roadmap with clinical precision, moving beyond guesswork to scientific mastery.
Basics of Rabbit Genetics
Rabbit coat colors are determined by five primary loci: A, B, C, D, and E. This simplified predictor helps you understand the likely phenotype based on genetic input.