The Ball Python Genetics Project is a research project with the purpose of understanding color morphs of ball pythons on a genetic level. Recently, the created a test that could determine several specific forms of albinism in ball pythons. My first thought concerned the possible implications for leopard gecko genetics, as that is the species with which I primarily work. As anyone who breeds leopard geckos knows, the genetics are a mess. There are three strains of albinism and three strains of eye traits, which are not to be crossed. These genes can be hard to precisely identify by sight so a genetic test would completely change the game. I wanted to figure out more about this project and I was a little confused on the method. This blog post will be what I determined.
Start Date: December 2nd, 2021