As far as I can make out, Chao inherit up to two pairs of genes from each parent, making eight genes in all. Each pair of genes contains information about the colour and tone of the Chao.
Two of these genes (one for colour, one for tone) will be active and the rest will be passive. Only the active genes dictate how the Chao will appear, although passive genes can still be passed on.
A Yellow Chao bought from the shop will always pass on these genes: Pure AND Yellow
If I mate him with a regular Chao (Duotone AND Normal)
the baby Chao could be several things depending on which genes are inherited as active.
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Pure AND Yellow -a Pure Yellow Chao |
Pure AND Yellow -a Duotone Yellow Chao |
Pure AND Yellow -a Regular Chao |
Pure AND Yellow -a Pure Normal Chao |
All of these Chao can pass on Pure, Duotone, Yellow and Normal genes to their offspring.
In addition to this, Chao can inherit the quality of being Shiny. Shiny works in addition to the colour and tone, so you can have a Pure or Duotone Chao with Shiny skin. Shiny Chao bought from the shop are Pure and will pass on the genes of Pure AND [Color] with a 50% chance of offspring being shiny.
If a shop-bought Shiny Green is mated with a Regular:
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Pure AND Green shiny=YES: a Shiny Green |
Pure AND Green shiny=YES: a Shiny Duotone Green |
Pure AND Green shiny=YES: a Shiny Normal |
Pure AND Green shiny=YES: a Shiny Pure Normal |
Therefore from this mating you have eight possible outcomes, even though both Chao are only passing on one set of genes. When you have later-generation Chao carrying the genes of their parents as well - and it can go back at least two generations - you can end up scratching your head as to where this Pure Red mating with this Pure Normal could have got the genes to produce a Shiny Duotone Yellow baby...
The Metallic gene is a single, dominant gene. A Chao is either Metallic or it isn't. If a Silver Chao is bred with a Regular Chao, the offspring will be either Silver or Regular - the genes don't mix.
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Silver -a Silver Chao |
Silver -a Regular Chao |
Silver -a Silver Chao |
Just to confuse matters more, no matter what comes out of a Metallic/Normal mating, that Chao can have both Metallic and Normal babies.