This model is based on contemporary studies on the inheritance of six pigment types in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) (see examples: Woodcock et al., 2017; Kabangu et al., 2023; Cecil et al., 2024). Studies have revealed these pigment types follow the simple Mendelian model of inheritance. Students may gather data to infer whether these traits are dominant or recessive.
1. Select one of five pigment types
2. Click the "Start/reset" button to start or start over.
3. Click the "Press and choose 2 parents" button.
4. Choose a male and a female in the simulation window.
5. Click the "cross!" button to conduct a test cross.
6. Examine offspring phenotypes in the simulation window and the "current pigment types" output.
This model was made by Dr. Lin Xiang and Dr. Randal Voss at the University of Kentucky. If you mention this model in a publication, we ask that you include the citations below,
Xiang, L. & Voss, R. (2024). Axolotl Pigmentation. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.
Woodcock, M. R., Vaughn-Wolfe, J., Elias, A., Kump, D. K., Kendall, K. D., Timoshevskaya, N., ... & Voss, S. R. (2017). Identification of mutant genes and introgressed tiger salamander DNA in the laboratory axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. Scientific reports, 7(1), 6.
Kabangu, M., Cecil, R., Strohl, L., Timoshevskaya, N., Smith, J. J., & Voss, S. R. (2023). Leukocyte Tyrosine Kinase (Ltk) Is the Mendelian Determinant of the Axolotl Melanoid Color Variant. Genes, 14(4), 904.
Cecil, R. F., Strohl, L., Thomas, M. K., Schwartz, J. L., Timoshevskaya, N., Smith, J. J., & Voss, S. R. (2024). Tyrp1 is the mendelian determinant of the Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) copper mutant. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 22399.
Questions? Comments? Email us.