Cindy-
 
Waardenburg syndrome is autosomal dominant - this means that if someone
carries only 1 gene for this condition, it will be expressed, unlike
a recessive condition where 2 genes (1 from each parent) is needed for
a condition to be expressed.
 
The white lock is considered "partial albinism" - in humans, children
born with this white lock may find that it becomes darker as the child
grows.  There are other abnormalities associated with WS, but deafness
and the white lock seem to the most common/prominent ones.
 
It is thought that older paternal age may be responsible for fresh mutations.
 
This condition was first recognized in cats in 1769, and later in dogs
and horses.  There is no mention of ferrets in Smith's Recognizable
Patterns of Human Malformations where I found this info.  This book is
like the "bible" of genetics - kind of like Robbin's Book is the bible
of pathologists - at least of the human variety.  :)
 
If ferrets follow the same route as humans, dogs, cats and horses, then
if a ferret with this condition, if bred with a normal ferret, would have
a 50% risk for each kit to have this condition, and a 50% chance that each
kit would be normal.  If 2 ferrets with this condition were bred, and
assuming they have a 'normal' recessive gene, then 75% of future kits would
be at risk for having this condition, and 25% could be normal.
 
Debbie Riccio
WNYFLFA
Rochester, NY
[Posted in FML issue 1286]