1940 - 1960
PICTURE FROM F.B. HUTT'S RESEARCH ESSAY ON THE ERMINETTE - FROM OXFORD JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
ALL EXCERPTS ARE FROM THE BOOK 'THE ERMINETTE' BY CURT BURROUGHS
In 1940, F.B. Hutt set out to determine the genetic underpinnings of the Erminette. Mr. Hutt had determined that the Erminette coloration was a result of a co-dominance of an unknown gene which he coined “Er” (let the modern reader not be confused by this as our current system of genetic nomenclature lists Er as the designation for the Birchen base on the e-locus). Later it was learned that the pattern is not created by a simple co-dominance effect but rather by the result of one dominant white gene over the extended black e-locus gene connected with modifiers that allow for a maximum expression of black. F.B. Hutt obtained his breeding stock from Mr. Burr which contained both rose comb and single combed individuals. F.B. Hutt culled the rose comb individuals and conducted his genetic study on single comb birds only.
PICTURE FROM F.B. HUTT'S RESEARCH ESSAY ON THE ERMINETTE - FROM OXFORD JOURNAL OF HEREDITY