# Black sheep genetics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-sheep-genetics/77343>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 21, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-sheep-genetics/77343 "2001-08-21T14:55:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-sheep-genetics/77343/1 "2001-08-21T14:55:49Z")

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Dex’s report on the term [“black sheep”](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mblacksheep.html) made me curious.

I’m guessing that blackness in a sheep is a recessive trait? In other words, could a perfectly respectable pair of white sheep could give birth to an undesirable black lamb?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-sheep-genetics/77343/2 "2001-08-21T17:39:57Z")

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It is indeed a recessive gene, and the answer to your question is “yes”.

Are you interested enough to wade through these sheep genetics websites? Because if I try, my brain will explode. 😃

[http://www.sheepusa.org/resource/handbook/chbreed.htm](http://www.sheepusa.org/resource/handbook/chbreed.htm)

[http://www.hawksmountainranch.com/colorpatterngenetics.html](http://www.hawksmountainranch.com/colorpatterngenetics.html)

[http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/agency/Pubns/farmnote/1999/f12999.htm](http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/agency/Pubns/farmnote/1999/f12999.htm)

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**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-sheep-genetics/77343/3 "2001-08-21T18:38:09Z")

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Thanks, **Duck Duck Goose**! The table on the first page convinced me.

Nothin’ like DDG’s patented Google smackdown. 🙂

Here’s a really in-depth one about Icelandic sheep that I found illuminating also:

[http://www.icelandicsheep.com/genetics.html](http://www.icelandicsheep.com/genetics.html)