Which dominant allele typically causes solid black coloration by overriding the Agouti gene?
Answer
Dominant E^D allele at the E locus.
The manifestation of a solid black coat, where hair shafts are uniformly black from root to tip, is typically attributed to the presence of a dominant allele designated as E^D, found at the E locus. This dominant allele exerts a powerful regulatory effect, instructing the coat to produce black pigment across the entire body surface. This action effectively masks or overrides the instructions provided by the Agouti gene, which would otherwise direct the creation of the characteristic banded coloration seen in sable patterns. Because the E^D gene is dominant, inheriting even one copy is sufficient for the dog to display the solid black phenotype, regardless of the underlying Agouti configuration.
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