Mapping of the silver gene in mink and its association with the dilution gene in dog.

In mink, recessive and dominant genes carry standard colors from generation to generation but breeding and cross breeding of naturally occurring mutations (color changes) has resulted in farmed animals bearing colors that do not exist in nature. The silver blue color type is one of the most used recessive mutations within mink fur farming being part of some of the popular color types which combine more recessive mutations. We report here the mapping of the 'silver' gene on MVI3 by means of the first linkage genetic map in the American mink (Mustela vison). A Canis familiaris BAC clone containing the melanophilin gene (which generates 'silver-like' phenotype in dog) was in situ cross-hybridized onto the mink chromosomes and the result strongly supports the linkage data. Therefore the silver phenotype in the American mink presumably involves the melanophilin gene (MLPH).