By Mitchell Wolf

Characteristics and GeneticsInterbreedingPopulation

The white lions, also called blond lions , are the same species as African lions

Their blondish-white coloring is the result of a recessive mutant gene

If an offspring gets two copies of that genetic mutation, the trait, such as blondness, will be expressed and show up.

You more likely to get two copies of that same mutation

You're also likely to get two copies of the rare deleterious mutations that all individuals have

Inbreeding reduces genetic variability, meaning the lions' immune systems could be weaker than that of their relatives

White lions were first spotted in the wild 400 years ago

White lions are rare in the wildBreeding programs, zoos and circuses have

breed more of them