Identify Hets in Ball Pythons - Lavender Albino, Ultramel, and more!

🚀 Join the discord / discord
🚀 Visit the website resolvereptile...
Today we have some exciting news regarding reptiles and research being done around how genes are inherited. How do you identify het pied in a ball python? Learn one guaranteed way in the video. Want to know if your 66% het ultramel is really ultramel? Completely accurate identification is on its way.
Subscribe! / @resolvereptiles
This type of research has the ability to completely change the way we work with animals in captivity. Not only ball pythons but also corn snakes, sand boas, and many other popular pet reptiles will have the core of the industry change when people are able to identify het animals with no more guessing. The next time you're browsing MorphMarket or another classified ads site take a moment of your time to consider what it would mean to have all the "66% het clown" listings disappear and instead be replaced with known genes. Imagine being able to identify the source of traits that have snuck into breeder collections with the wrong label.
This is real science being done using a very old technology, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), combined with our understanding of inheritable traits (Mendelian inheritance). You may remember PCR being mentioned in a previous video here at the Reptile Information Review regarding nidovirus - it's the same technology used since 1985. This is real science. There are no fake crackpot theories about Vitamin D or cut and pasted Wikipedia articles here.
Special note: The snakes featured in the video are fresh from the egg and not even a week old.
Be part of the project!
Corrections: The university is Eastern Michigan University and not "East Michigan".
Eastern Michigan University Ball Python Genetics Project
sites.google.c...
(Preprint) A nonsense mutation in TFEC is the likely cause of the recessive piebald phenotype in ball pythons (Python regius)
www.biorxiv.or...
Learn to do this yourself (soon!)
www.minipcr.com/

[@toeachitsown2050]

Absolutely love this! When I 1st got into BPs and realized the crazy variation, I asked the "snake people" "Are they studying this?? This is amazing! I have never seen such genetic variation in one animal!" Im a science nerd and there is no other animal with this level of genetic variety. I 100% would buy a PCR machine. Not just for my customers but because Im geeked out on this!

[@ResolveReptiles]

Absolutely! I can't think of any other animal we keep as a pet that could possibly come close to the number of variations that the ball python has.

[@mrmouse-ol9pw]

​@@ResolveReptilesdogs

[@kidoghost7860]

Okay but the yawn when he showed the babies tho 😍❤️

[@BrianKusko]

Excellent, well delivered information. Even though I know all this stuff, somehow I still feel like I learned a ton from watching this video. I'll be sending in sheds 😎👍

[@ResolveReptiles]

Hey thanks for stopping in! Means a lot coming from someone who I've spent so many hours geeking out to. :)

[@kendylrouthieaux2029]

There is always room to learn new things!

[@jeremyharmon4517]

Amazing! Also beyond recessives maybe it could eventually also be used to identify allelic combos? Like gravel/YB no more guessing when using highway/freeway parents or the like.

[@ResolveReptiles]

It definitely could be used for that but I don't know if anyone is working to isolate dominant genes (yet). It would definitely be very helpful!

[@PunchingCacti]

This would be super useful depending on the cost. I would be able to label my 66% het beardie babies as 100% het or normal and just put the cost of the test onto the price of the animal if its a reasonable price.

[@ResolveReptiles]

That's a great idea!

[@pythonpassion]

Great video! I interviewed Dr. Hannah of Eastern Michigan University a few weeks after this. I'm looking forward to the advancement of science in Ball Pythons.

[@ResolveReptiles]

Thanks. Means so much. No links to your videos? Anyone showing up late to class has to see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3-8oJhqjLqDf5o kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4vRgIGfm9apkMU

[@pythonpassion]

This was Dr. Hannah's first ever live. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3-8oJhqjLqDf5o

[@mrmouse-ol9pw]

Im a ball python owner, biologist, and I've heard of genbank😊 really interesting video. Do you have an update to this? When gettimg into balls, it was the genetics that fascinated me! Also frustrated by how far behind testing is. Were not all recessive breeders!

[@ResolveReptiles]

Since this video, testing has been embraced by quite a few breeders. Rare Genetics, Inc. has commercial tests for many recessives and also Specter (an incomplete dominant complex of genes that includes yellow belly, etc.). Justin Kobylka (Kinova) did a video series recently on DGa and DGb discovered by RGI - this is desert ghost but expected to be polygenic. Interesting stuff.

[@mrmouse-ol9pw]

@@ResolveReptiles def been keeping up with the dg stuff as it's just fascinating!! Again my issue, and others I'm guessing is I don't breed recessive. I stack coDom and inc Dom genes. Once u get up to four five six genes testing would be super helpful! Hope we get there soon

[@MaritaDeLaPenaDTG]

Thank you for the information. This is important work:)

[@ResolveReptiles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andrewgaillard4870]

If or when I send a sample, because I am very interested in this and extremely interested on the clown Gene And knowing that I may not have to take a gamble when purchasing something that is 66% or 50% or 100% would help not only me but everybody I feel like. This is amazing and I am 100% going to do some more research on what you were talking about. Thank you so much for putting this out this is absolutely awesome!!

[@ResolveReptiles]

This will be a game changing technology for the whole hobby as it expands. I imagine, since the researchers are noticing the coding genes for albino were roughly the same across species, we'll someday see tests for other pythons, boas, etc, etc. Very exciting stuff.

[@cflin4637]

This is pretty amazing stuff. I have slight mixed feelings on this, tho. On one hand, I am totally for the advancement of science and genetics, but on the other hand, coming from the place that houses my desire to gamble, there's something to be said as the customer, especially when starting out, being able to take a chance on a possible het of a fairly expensive gene for a fraction of the cost. Although it's a gamble, it also helps break the barrier of entry cost a little bit. This would remove that. I think ultimately, science and understanding genetics plays a more important role. It is kind of a bummer at the same time.

[@ResolveReptiles]

I don't think we'll ever have "all the codes" for every morph. There will always be a Monsoon or Moray or a Sunset, etc, creeping around the corner! :)

[@cflin4637]

@@ResolveReptiles yeah that's true.. hopefully

[@moshballs7477]

This is the coolest video I have seen. So very cool!

[@ResolveReptiles]

Thank you! I'm glad you appreciate it. We're at a very special place in the hobby and things will only get better and easier. This project is near and dear to me. :)

[@ResolveReptiles]

The power to change the industry just by being able to guarantee a het. Are you excited? Is this a method you're going to want to incorporate into your own breeding programs and keeping?

[@AnthonyWrenn]

They are currently working g on Yellow Belly. Just sent them a bunch of sheds.

[@ResolveReptiles]

Awesome to hear that you're helping out! I did hear they were working on specter and I can't wait to see what comes of that.

[@lauraumpherville4964]

Do you have a mailing address..I'd love to send my sheds to them...

[@AnthonyWrenn]

They had contacted me on IG amd I have long since deleted messages from back then.

[@iamLeBlu]

Good video

[@lauraholzler1417]

I am really excited by these developments. I can not wait to try this myself.

[@ResolveReptiles]

Make sure to subscribe because you're going to love an upcoming video :)

[@lauraholzler1417]

Done and thanks for the reminder.

[@chavascatch]

very very informational video! I loved it and thank you for helping the community grow, it’s greatly appreciated! I couldn’t thank you enough! 👍🏽

[@ResolveReptiles]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@OGReptiles18]

I feel that the next step beyond identifying these recessive morphs is going into trying to figure out what different possible species, subspecies and localities these ball python morphs are

[@ResolveReptiles]

That would be especially useful with species like Leachies and Retics where localities make a big difference. :)

[@Garcia-elf]

We are trying to do that but it reguires wild-caught samples, which are harder to obtain

[@iamLeBlu]

New sub

[@chrisballpythons6017]

Cryptic and Gaia “floaating”

[@VonBandyk9]

Great Info!

[@ResolveReptiles]

Thanks for watching!

[@mor-phor-us]

I would love to see PCR test that can use shed scan to determine sex! It would be the safest and healthiest method for my ball pythons... especially if it's a home test...

[@ResolveReptiles]

Do I have some interesting news for you! While I don't think they often do tests for pythons, there is a company called Rare Genetics that can do PCR testing for sex with a variety of animals. I believe they mention that this is most useful with venomous. Being able to sex-with-shed has obvious benefits for keeping the keeper and the animal safe! raregeneticsinc.com/

[@OfficialBloodrunner]

This does sound amazing.

[@ResolveReptiles]

I can't wait :)

[@davesdragoncave441]

Will we be able to test the eggs?

[@ResolveReptiles]

I'm not sure you can. You can definitely test after they're born, though.

[@ron4096]

Awesome!!

[@kylelowder1883]

Is this still happening? Can we still send shed in?

[@ResolveReptiles]

It is. You can also visit Rare Genetics online for the commercial tests.

[@pythonpatrolexotics]

Would you be interested in testing something in the yellowbelly complex, but doesn't seem to be on the list of the things tested at the university. I bought it last year the gene is called "flare" and I can't find anything about it. I've asked people about it about no one has heard of it

[@ResolveReptiles]

I think they are working on the Yellow Belly (Specter) complex now. You might be able to talk to them. I would assume something named "Flare" would probably be fire or similar? Maybe you can match it up to something in that complex.

[@beaubryant2120]

Ok I am seeing this 2 years after it was posted. Are they still needing sheds?

[@ResolveReptiles]

Yes. In two years the idea of gene testing has blown up. Find the latest on the Ball Python Genetics Project (quick Google will get you the Eastern Michigan University site). Rare Genetics, Inc. is also offering gene tests (as mentioned in the video).

[@andrewgaillard4870]

Have they done anything with the clown genotype??

[@ResolveReptiles]

Not yet - but they're quickly adding to the identified genes. If you have clown in your collection you should send it in :)

[@LanceKirkman]

How does it work with Alielics?

[@ResolveReptiles]

If you head over to the Current Progress section of the website they talk about some interesting findings with Candy/Toffee and Albino. Particularly interesting is that they seem to have found that samples labelled Albino weren't a single allele. From the website: "We hypothesize that the two alleles making up the 'Albino' morph produce similar color patterns and were not previously recognized by breeders as distinct." Based on that, Albino is actually two different morphs! Pretty interesting and I think that might help to answer your question... or create new ones around the way we've designated morphs. Really interesting. :)

[@ambermckay8412]

Omg this is awesome! Forget about paying for probability, paying for a guarantee...I would do that...and I will look at adding that to our breeding program @maindragmorphs

[@26cnel]

When new technology gets introduced there’s always stipulations. a year later and they only can ID 5-7 morphs smh. They should at least explain to people the stipulations of not being able to ID all morphs before selling a dream lol.

[@ResolveReptiles]

"The dream" (completely achievable) would be to catalog all of the morphs. Someday... but obviously not right now. This form of DNA barcoding and testing is not new. It shouldn't be assumed we have cataloged every single current and future possible gene influencing a phenotype.

[@delaneyh7813]

Implying I can't sell my normal 66% het pied for $300, unsubscribed

[@pengy7746]

Good video but you are wrong unfortunately!

[@ResolveReptiles]

Oh no whatever shall I do?