Description:
Fray is mutation in coturnix quail that causes the bird to develop their feathers improperly. There is some variation across the mutation, with mild cases having mild ruffled or missing feathers across the back of the head and neck. In extreme cases, the bird will be missing almost all of its feathers across the body (1). It does not appear to affect the overall health or quality of the bird, unlike feather mutations like Frizzle in chickens (2). Fray is very similar, but different mutation than the defective feathers gene (2). It is possible that the loss of feathers could be selected and bred for and the overall mutation made more consistent.
Fray is causes by two separate genes that are linked. The first is an autosomal dominant gene (shorthand: Fr), and then a second recessive modification gene (mod.). It is unknown which gene causes the majority of the issues, but the two must exist together to show any sort of expression. However, they are both on the same chromosome (2), unlike the defective feather gene. This suggests that the two are separate mutations (1).
It was discovered in 1997-1998 by Tsudzuki in Japan and first introduced at the Asian Pacific Poultry Conference in 1998. While it has been studied in a lab, it is not currently believed to be in public hands at this time.
The gene symbols are mod (modifier gene) and fr (main gene), and the order of dominance is: Fray > Wildtype, Modifier < Wildtype.
Breeding with Fray:
Breeding with fray is not listed here because of the double genes needed.
References & Further Reading
Tsudzuki, Masaoki. "Mutations of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and recent advances of molecular genetics for this species." The journal of poultry science 45.3 (2008): 159-179.
Tsudzuki M, Nakane Y, Wada A, and Ito S. A unique mode of inheritance detected in a feather structure mutation of Japanese quail. In: Proceedings of the th Asian Pacific Poultry Congress.
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