Blonde, a new mutation in Peromyscus maniculatus affecting fur, skin, and eye pigmentation

An autosomal recessive mutation affecting hair and eye pigmentation was discovered in the F2 progeny of wild-type deer mice, (Peromyscus maniculatus), trapped near East Lansing, Michigan. When homozygous, the mutation (designated as blonde, bl), reduces both black and yellow pigmentation deposited in the fur, reduces or eliminates pigmentation in the non-follicular melanocytes of the outer ear, peri-orbital skin and tail, slightly reduces the amount of pigmentation in the choroidal melanocytes, and completely eliminates pigmentation of the retinal epithelium.