In nature, there’s just one type and color of guinea pig. However, over the years breeders have produced many beautiful varieties of guinea pigs from that single wild strain. How did this happen? How did the tremendous variety that now exists develop from one type of guinea pig?
There is a large degree of genetic diversity in every animal that reproduces sexually. This genetic diversity enables a species to adapt to changes in its environment, making the species better able to survive in a shifting world. To put it simply, a guinea pig inherits two genes for a specific trait, coat color for example one from his father and one from his mother. Each of the genes is either dominant or recessive, and the color of the guinea pig’s coat depends on which of the two genes is dominant.
When guinea pigs became domesticated, human beings began to control the animals’ breeding. When an unusual trait showed up in a guinea pig, this animal was bred with another guinea pig who had a similar trait. The unusual trait often turned up in the guinea pigs’ offspring, rather than being lost again, perhaps forever, as it would have been if the unusual guinea pig had mated with a normal guinea pig on his own. In this way, guinea pig breeders have been able to produce the many beautiful colors and varieties described in this chapter. New and even more amazing varieties are still being developed.
Underneath the fancy coat, though, a purebred guinea pig is the same as any other guinea pig and still needs plenty of affection and care.
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