A number of genes are responsible for producing marked varieties of rabbits. The Dutch (Du) gene and English (En) gene are examples.

The English Gene

Melanocytes (Melanin producing cells) are closly related to nerve cells. During embryogenesis they migrate from the dorsal horn to all regions where melanin is found to be produced.

A lack of melanocytes to any region will result in no melanin production. Mutations of the En gene result in inhibited melanocyte migration, due to induced apoptosis (cell death) of these pigment cells. As a result white patches are seen on the coat. Areas where melanocytes reside have normal melanin production, while the white patches have no melanin produced and no melanocytes.

The english gene acts in an incomplete dominant fashion. It is the heterozygous form that gives rise to the markings seen on an English rabbit. Rabbits homozygous for the mutant allele will have very little pigment produced, these animals are commonly called charlies and typically have pigment confined to the ears and eye circles. Other genes are involved in the exact migratory patterns of the melanocytes so two animals with the Enen genotype may vary in the exact coat pattern seen. Non genetic effects are also responsible for the exact markings, thus even cloning the perfect English rabbit may not result in a perfectly marked clone.

The (Du) Gene

The Vienna Gene