A sparkledog genetic simulator! In this simulator any dog can be a sire or a dam; all sparkledogs in this sim are monoecious. Every pairing produces two offspring, which for ease of viewing, immediately take the place of the sire and dam used for breeding. Colored starter dogs are heterozygous for both markings, and are heterozygous for the marking to be their base coat color. They are also heterozygous for long fur and homozygous for no wings. The gray dogs are homozygous for short fur and heterozygous for both wing types. Due to the limitations of Scratch's case-sensitivity (or lack thereof), different alleles are represented not only by upper case and lower case letters, but also by different letters entirely. Dominance (including incomplete dominance) is still represented by upper case letters, and recessiveness is represented by lower case letters. Base Coat Color Coat color is determined by three genes: Cyan (C), Yellow (Y), and Magenta (M). These genes mask the base coat color (white), and multiple masks mix using a subtractive color model. Hue genes have incomplete dominance, meaning if a dog is heterozygous for a particular hue, it will partially present the hue, resulting in a weaker lean toward that color. This leads to a total of 27 possible base coat colors, depending on how much cyan, how much yellow, and how much magenta pigment is produced. For example: the genes xxMMYx (full magenta, slight yellow) will result in a hot pink dog, CxxxYY (slight cyan, full yellow) will result in a lime green dog, and CCMxxx (full cyan, slight magenta) will result in a sky blue dog. Markings The possible markings for sparkledogs are stripes and spots. Each is its own separate gene, so a dog can have one, both, or neither. Both spots and stripes are recessive traits, meaning a dog needs to be homozygous for a marking for it to show on the dog's coat. This also means heterozygous parents who have no markings can have offspring with markings. For example, the genes TToo will result in a dog with spots but no stripes, iiPP will result in a dog with stripes but no spots, and TiPo will result in a dog with no spots or stripes but could pass on stripe or spot genes to its offspring. Marking colors are determined by combinations of four possible alleles: cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (K). K is the dominant gene, and c, m, and y have incomplete dominance with each-other, resulting in the expected colors from mixing (cc is cyan, ym is red, etc.). When homozygous for K, the gene malfunctions, and results in a lack of pigment on the markings. Fur length The shorthair gene (S) is dominant, and the longhair gene (l) is recessive. (Finally an easy one) Wings Sparkledogs can have feathered ("angel") wings (a), or membranous ("demon") wings (d). There are three possible wing alleles: N, a, and d. The dominant gene, N, is for a lack of wings, and both a and d are recessive. Currently there is no way to have mismatched wings, so a dog needs to be homozygous for wings to present. Disclaimer: not all dogs generated by this sim meet the breed standard for sparkledogs as outlined by the TSKC (ThornShadow Kennel Club). However, due to the unique way sparkledog genetics work, dogs with undesirable traits yet confirmed purebred heritage will not be banned, as many of these dogs are fully able to produce offspring with desirable traits.
Glossary (alphabetized): Additive color - The color model that represents the mixing of wavelengths of light. The more light you add, the closer to white the color gets. Called "additive" because of the addition of more light as color is added. Red, green, and blue are the primaries. Allele - One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that are responsible for alternative traits. Breed standard - A description of the characteristics of a hypothetical or ideal example of a breed. The description may include physical or morphological detail, genetic criteria, or criteria of athletic or productive performance. It may also describe faults or deficiencies that would disqualify an animal from registration or from reproduction. Chromosome - A strand of DNA that contains hereditary genetic information Co-dominance - A heterozygous condition in which both alleles are fully expressed in the phenotype (such as patches of both brown and white fur) Dam - "mother;" the individual that provides the female gamete DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid; "genetic code" Dominant gene - A gene that produces the same phenotype in the organism whether or not its allele identical; a gene that masks or overrides the effect of a different variant of the same gene Gamete - A reproductive cell containing chromosomes Gene - A hereditary unit; a segment of DNA Genotype - The genetic makeup of an organism; the combination of alleles that determine characteristics of an organism. Hereditary - Being able to be genetically transmitted from parent to offspring Heterozygous - having different alleles of a given gene Homozygous - having identical alleles of a given gene Hue - The aspect of color perceived as ranging from red through yellow, green, and blue; the different wavelengths of light. Not how light or dark, nor how vibrant a color is. Incomplete dominance - A heterozygous condition in which both alleles are partially expressed, often producing an intermediate phenotype (such as pale orange fur rather than brown or white) Monoecious - Having both male and female reproductive systems on the same organism Phenotype - The observable characteristics of an organism Pigment - A substance used as coloring; a substance that produces a characteristic color in plant or animal tissue Primary (color) - One of the three colors from which all other colors can be mixed. In additive mixing (light), red, green, and blue (r+g = yellow, r+b = magenta, g+b = cyan, r+g+b = white). In subtractive mixing (pigment), cyan, magenta, and yellow (often incorrectly taught as red, yellow, and blue) (c+m = blue, c+y = green, m+y = red, c+m+y = black) Recessive gene - A gene that produces its associated phenotype only when its allele is identical; a gene whose effects are masked or overridden by the presence of a different variant of the same gene. Saturation - The aspect of color perceived as its vividness or brightness; the variation in how vibrant or dull a color is. Not how light or dark, nor what "type" (ex. red or green) of color a color is. Sire - "father;" the individual that provides the male gamete Sparkledog, sparkleanimal - an animal character (typically a wolf or dog) that has many bright, unnatural colors and markings (especially rainbows). Commonly also seen with additional body parts, such as wings, horns, extra tails, and human-like hair, as well as accessories such as bandannas, legwarmers, and piercings. Subtractive color - The color model that represents the mixing of physical materials, such as paint pigments or dye. The more pigment you mix, the darker the color gets. Called "subtractive" because of the absorption, or subtraction, of certain wavelengths of light as more color is added. Commonly taught to have red, yellow, and blue as its primaries, however the more accurate primaries are cyan, yellow, and magenta. (This is why color printers use cyan, yellow, and magenta (and black) ink instead of red yellow and blue!) Value - The aspect of color perceived as its darkness or lightness; the variation in how bright or dark a color is. Not how vibrant, nor what "type" (ex. red or green) of color a color is. 23/09/23 1.0 - release 24/09/23 1.1 - marking color genetics, show/hide DNA buttons, and delete button added 16/10/23 1.2 - longhair, wings, and new starter dogs added 18/04/25 1.2.1 - replaced an offensive term with a more scientifically accurate one To add: more stuff: hair, horns, floppy ears, special tails, more markings... in-game tips (ex. basics of subtractive color mixing, basics of genetics) in-game glossary Option to input genetic code of specific dogs Story/challenge gamemode (limited money, buying/selling of dogs, food/care?, etc.) Dressup items (being able to give certain dogs hats, bracelets, necklaces, etc.)
