This gene is recessive and animals that are homozygous for it have less intense colouring. This is becasue the shape of the pigment granules within the hairs change and as a result light is reflected in a different way. This means that black pigment appears blue and yellow pigment appears cream.
Black pigment is affected more than yellow pigment.
Many other dilute colours will simply be a lighter version of the usual colour. Gerbils carrying the gene have been distributed to some breeders in Holland and Germany and pictures of some of the dilute gerbils produced by the four members of the Gerbil Genetics Group are on this page. For example, blue mice, rabbits and cats have been known for a long time. The Blue gerbil has a much lighter, and warmer coloured coat than the Slate. The nails are also very dark.