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Dominant Black (ED)

Dominant Black (ED)

Gene

Dominant black (ED) is the top allele of the rabbit extension gene, MC1R. It spreads dark pigment over the whole coat, so the rabbit looks self whatever its agouti genes, although one copy over normal extension (E) can leave faint ticking on an agouti rabbit. It is dominant over every other extension allele and is a six base pair deletion in MC1R.

How Dominant Black (ED) works

Dominant Black (ED) is part of the Extension series: Dominant Black (ED), Steel (Es), Normal Extension (E), Harlequin (ej), Non-extension (e). It shows over Steel (Es), Normal Extension (E), Harlequin (ej) and Non-extension (e).

Dominant over steel, normal extension, harlequin and non-extension; ED/E on an agouti rabbit can show faint ticking, while ED/ED and ED/e are full black.

Class
Incomplete dominant
One copy
One ED copy
Two copies
Dominant black (ED/ED)
Symbol
ED
Part of

About the name

Older papers wrote dominant black as D, steel as D prime and harlequin as J; in modern use D is the dense allele of the dilute gene.

What it looks like

Illustrations of typical animals, checked against the sources below. Not photos of DNA-tested animals.

Chestnut agouti Holland Lop on a plain domestic garden lawn.
Chestnut agoutiAgouti with normal extension (E).
Uniform black Holland Lop on a clipped domestic garden lawn.
BlackDominant black (ED/ED) on an agouti rabbit is full black and looks like a self (a/a).

Sources

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Example: about 1 in 2 Black per kit at conception (1/2).

Quick facts

Guides & articles
24

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Guides & articles

Guides and articles for Dominant Black (ED) rabbit owners.

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How Much Do Pet Rabbits Cost? Purchase, Spay/Neuter, Setup, and Lifetime Price Guide

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How Long Are Rabbits Pregnant? Rabbit Gestation Period and Due Date

Rabbits are pregnant for about 31 days. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives the rabbit gestation period as roughly 31 to 33 days from mating, so a doe bred on the first of the month will usually kindle (give birth) around the start of the next one (Merck Veterinary Manual, Management of Rabbits). That short window […]

Rabbit Health Record Template: What to Track and When to Call a Vet

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How Long Do Rabbits Live, and Healthy Aging

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Where to Buy a Rabbit: Rescues, Breeders, Health Checks, and How to Avoid the Impulse Buy

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Dominant Black (ED) Tools

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