"Silver" Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)
Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver.
The Japanese Quail is also known as Coturnix Quail, Pharaoh's Quail, Stubble Quail and Eastern Quail. It mainly inhabits East Asia.
These birds were kept as pets beginning in the 11th century in Japan. By 1910, Japanese Quail became popular in Japan for egg and meat.
Mutants of this bird have been developed for their color of plumage, color of egg shell and body size.
MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) is a gene involved in the development of melanocytes, retinal cells, osteoclasts and mast cells. Mutations at the MITF gene lead, among other things, to decreased pigmentation. The "white" Japanese quail homozygous for the semi dominant "silver" plumage colour mutation have a white plumage colour and heterozygotes have a diluted grey "silver" plumage.
"Silver" Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)
Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver.
The Japanese Quail is also known as Coturnix Quail, Pharaoh's Quail, Stubble Quail and Eastern Quail. It mainly inhabits East Asia.
These birds were kept as pets beginning in the 11th century in Japan. By 1910, Japanese Quail became popular in Japan for egg and meat.
Mutants of this bird have been developed for their color of plumage, color of egg shell and body size.
MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) is a gene involved in the development of melanocytes, retinal cells, osteoclasts and mast cells. Mutations at the MITF gene lead, among other things, to decreased pigmentation. The "white" Japanese quail homozygous for the semi dominant "silver" plumage colour mutation have a white plumage colour and heterozygotes have a diluted grey "silver" plumage.