What genetic classification is assigned to the Yellow Belly Ball Python gene?

Co-dominant

The Yellow Belly gene is classified genetically as a co-dominant gene. This classification dictates how the trait is inherited and expressed visually. Being co-dominant means that an animal only requires one copy of the gene to display the physical characteristics associated with the morph; thus, a snake exhibiting the standard Yellow Belly appearance is heterozygous, carrying one normal gene and one Yellow Belly gene. If an animal inherits two copies of this gene, it develops into a Super Yellow Belly, which demonstrates an even more dramatic visual presentation, characterized by substantially greater pattern loss and heightened coloration intensity. This co-dominant nature is crucial because it allows for predictable outcomes in breeding projects and contributes significantly to its foundational role in the morph industry.