http://fingerlakesfinesttbs.com/cant-catch-this-2012-16-1h-bay-mare-with-very-unique-chrome/
according to the information, the pattern won’t be passed along.
Well, this is just a theory, but we talk a lot about how DNA is mis-translated all the time. Our own cells mis-translate our DNA pretty regularly and nothing interesting happens. The cell has means of identifying the mistake and destroying the product. When that doesn’t work, it’s called cancer!
If the mis-translation occurs in a sex cell, which occurs at a rate of 3.3 × 10[SUP]−11[/SUP] in humans*, then you can get (among MANY other outcomes) a brand new white spotting pattern as we see from time to time. But if mis-translation occurs fairly early on in development, you can get weird non-heritable patterns like this mare’s. Just a guess.
- Someone better educated than me will have to translate this to “1 in X chance” format. Source = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5436103/
That looks 
Chimeras are almost always either normal looking (which makes for really fun DNA testing!), brindled (ie Dunbars Gold) or they have very defined splotchy markings or “spots” where, say, a bay and a black joined.
1 Like
I find it to be contradictory to say that the pattern won’t be passed on and in the next breath to say that the vets do not know why she has this coloring; they have theories. If the vets don’t know what causes the coloration, how can they say it’s not heritable?
Dottie was born with this interesting coloring and it is described on her foal papers. It will not pass on with breeding. The veterinarians have various theories for why her coloring is like this, but regardless, it in no way impacts her health or soundness.
Whatever. I think she is absolutely gorgeous and well put together.
1 Like
there are a lot of things we know animals are born with (congenital) that are not heritable and of unknown causes. We don’t know what causes somatic mutations other than - they are a mutation. We know what it is, but not why, other than just randomness. We know enough about somatic mutations to know they are not heritable. I don’t expect 99.99% of vets to know what causes this sort of thing, or what it’s called, but am not surprised when they know it’s not something that can be passed on.
2 Likes
Looks like lacing to me too. We had a polo pony that had almost identical markings to that. I wish I had a picture.
She looks like a lovely girl and I’m dying to take her home, funny color or no.
1 Like
