the latin prefix hypo has to do with "under", "below" or "less than usual".
i think with beardies, the "less than usual" part is the pigmentation. im pretty sure hypo beardies have clear fingernails and are usually light colored. they are not albinos, just lacking pigment.
Not 100% sure as I'm not a breeder but I'll take a stab at it.
I always figured it was a term I learned in Genetics. Het, heterozygous or having both genes for a trait, i.e. the allele for brown eyes (B) and blue eyes (b) with would look something like this (Bb) on a chart. Where monozygous is the opposite, only having the gene for one trait (BB).
It's kind of a simplistic explanation.....or I could be completely wrong. :lol:
Het means that they carry the gene for a certain trait but it is recessive, therefore they don't show the actual trait. Like if a dragon is normal phase het for hypo, that means it carries the hypo gene but doesn't show the characteristerics of the gene because it is recessive. I hope that helps !
I found this while browsing the net, this is part of what I've read:
Leucisism, Hypomelanism, Pastel, and Translucism are all real mutations.
Leucistic, Snow, and Pastel are all Hypomelanistic traits, meaning they lack the dark or black pigment. Translucent dragons lack white pigment and have solid black eyes. As babies, you can see right through their belly!
Leucistic: White, No Pattern, Clear Nails.
Hypo: Lacks dark pigment, Clear Nails.
Pastel: Looks Hypo, but with Black Nails
Snow: Looks Leucistic, but with Black Nails