Genetic Color Map			How I got started   I’m an avid reader, (mostly, though not exclusively, of science fiction) and I have a college degree in Physics.  I spent my early professional career as a software developer and now I mostly manage IT projects.  When I started with mice I approached it the way I start other things—exhaustive research!  I found many sites online and read everything I could about care, and then I became fascinated with all the different colors and coat types they can have.    My background in science and problem solving came in handy here.  As long as you stick with Mendelian inheritance, all those genes just become one big logic puzzle.  I did extensive research and found myself tutoring fellow breeders who struggled with the entry-level subject matter and weren’t able to get beyond that.  What I found was that the available materials were either advanced scientific notation or overly simplified, without much in between.  So I wrote my own.   On the left is one of the graphics from my book, showing the basic color genes (ignoring the C dilutions for the moment) and what combinations make which colors.  I hope you find it useful!  Let me know.
Example litters   I’ve only studied color inheritance in mice, and haven’t ever bred any other animals.  The principles are generally the same, but the notation, possible colors and combinations can be different for different animals.    Below we see Chakra, a broken agouti angora, and Asher, a Lilac standard coat.  I put them together in February 2013, and now we see their babies!  I got a 9 angoras and standard coats in black and agouti, roughly half of them spotted (which we call "broken").
Chakra, Broken Agouti Angora Asher, Lilac Buck	Agouti Angoras and Black Standard Broken agouti angoras and standards, one broken black angora
Below is Chakra's sister Audra, broken cinnamon, and Tangelo, my old red angora buck, came up with this crew of babies in February, 2013.  They're doing great!  Half are roaned, and most are various shades of red.  It's hard to see but I think one or two of the lighter red roans is actually a merle.  The two chocolate babies are hard to tell apart, they're nearly identical.  The whole bunch is very alert and active.
Audra, Broken Cinnamon Roan Tangelo, Red Angora	Three Red Roans Two chocolates and a red