Genes

Niche - Breed and Evolve features realistic genetics. A **gene** is a hereditary trait that is passed from parent to offspring through breeding.

There are 15 different types of genes, each of which affects a different part or ability of the Nicheling. These types of genes are:

Ears, Horns, Eyes, Snout, Paws, Hind Legs, Tail, Fur Color, Mane Type, Mane Color, Eye Color, Horn Color, Pattern, Pattern Color, Pattern Density, Pattern Size, Mask Size.

Each Nicheling has two copies of every gene. They inherit one copy from their mother and one from their father. When they breed, each parent will randomly pass on one copy of each gene. If a gene is **dominant**, then only one copy is needed for it to be expressed. If it is **recessive**, then two copies are needed. In the case of **co-dominance**, both genes are expressed. Note that if there are multiple variations of the same gene, some genes are more dominant than others. For example, brown eyes are *dominant* to green eyes, but *recessive* to black eyes. Therefore, a creature with genes for brown and green eyes will have brown eyes, but a creature with genes for brown and black eyes will have black eyes.

Genes are either linked to an ability (perception, collecting, strength, swimming, fishing, heat resistance, cold resistance or poison resistance) and appearance or only change the appearance of the Nicheling (like color and pattern genes).

Genes, which influence an ability, can mutate, which will make the mutated gene stronger.

## Ears

There are 7 different ear types that can be found:

* Medium Ears (+1 Perception)
* Big Ears
* Fluffy Ears
* Round Ears
* Pointy Ears (+2 Perception)
* Floppy Ears
* Rabbit Ears (+3 Perception)

## Horns

There are 4 different horn types that can be found:

* Goat Horns (+1 Strength)
* Ram
* Savanna Horns
* Antlers.

## Eyes

There are 3 different eye types that can be found:

* Normal Eyes (+2 Perception)
* Shortsighted Eyes (+1 Perception)
* Blind Eyes. (N/A)

## Snout

There are 12 different snout types that can be found:

* Short Snout (+2 Perception)
* Big Snout (+3 Perception)
* Bird Beak (+2 Collecting)
* Purr Snout
* Poison Fangs
* Boar Tusks (+2 Strength)
* Sabertooth Fangs
* Sticky Tounge
* Digging Trunk
* Cracker Jaw
* Platypus Beak
* Derp Snout.

## Paws

There are 7 different paw types that can be found:

* Nimble Fingers (+2 Collecting)
* Hoof (+2 Strength)
* Digging Paw (+3 Collecting)
* Claw
* Fluffy Paw
* Strong Paw
* Deformed Paw (+1 Collecting)

## Hind Legs

There are 3 different hind leg types that can be found:

* Hind Legs (+1 Strength)
* Carnivore Hind Legs (+2 Fishing)
* Webbed Hind Legs

## Tail

There are 8 different paw types that can be found:

* Medium Tail (+1 Cold Resistance)
* Warm Tail
* Fishing Tail (+2 Fishing)
* Long Tail (+1 Collecting)
* Stinky Tail (+1 Poison Resistance)
* Swimming Tail
* Scorpion Tail
* Hammer Tail.

## Colors

There are 9 main colors:

* Brown
* Black
* White
* Beige
* Dark Brown
* Chestnut Brown
* Moss Brown
* Yellow
* Orange
* Red.

The color genes are co-dominant, which means that both of the genes will eb expressed. A Nicheling with a gene for brown and white fur will express both genes and have a light brown fur color. The same goes for pattern, mane and horn colors.

## Mane Type

There are 3 different mane types:

* Straight Mane (N/A)
* Curly Mane (+1 Cold Resistance)
* Shaggy Mane (N/A)

The mane genes are only expressed in male Nichelings.

## Eye Color

There are 13 different eye colors that can be found:

* Black
* Brown
* Hazel
* Green
* Light Green
* Blue
* Light Blue
* Yellow
* Orange
* Purple
* Red
* Pink
* Teal

## Pattern

There are 7 different patten types that can be found:

* Spots
* Dots
* Blotches
* Leopard Spots
* Jagged Stripes
* Wavy Stripes
* Marbled Stripes
* No Pattern.

The No Pattern gene simply disables the pattern of a Nicheling.

## Pattern Density

There are 5 different patten densities that can be found:

* Very Sparse
* Sparse
* Medium
* Large
* Very Large.

## Pattern Size

There are 5 different patten sizes that can be found:

* Very Small
* Small
* Medium
* Big
* Very Big.

## Mask Size

There are 7 different mask sizes that can be found:

* Very Small
* Small
* Medium
* Large
* Very Large
* No Mask.

The No Mask gene simply disables the pattern of a Nicheling.