The pattern varies from Tuxedo – when the cat is mostly black with a little bit of white on its chest, to Van – mostly white with colored tail and top of the head. This is a coat variation in which the cat has one primary (non-white) color with white parts. Cat coat genetics: Pattern types Bicolor, Tuxedo or Van The white spotting gene ( W S) is also dominant, but it only disrupts migration of melanocytes to certain patches in the skin, thus leading for formation of white spots/areas.Īnd finally, the Birman gloving allele (w g) is recessive (two alleles are required for expression), and it causes the white gloves specific for the Birman breed (but it can be found in other breeds too). The carriers of this allele are white regardless of any other color-associated gene. Because it's inherited in a dominant manner, one variant is enough for the trait to be expressed. It is also associated with blue eyes and deafness. The dominant white gene ( W D) encodes complete white coloration by disrupting replication and migration of melanocytes into the skin. Other KIT alleles are dominant white ( W D), white spotting ( W S) and recessive Birman white gloving allele ( w g). The wild-type allele of this gene is recessive ( w) and homozygotes for it won't have any white in their coat. The KIT gene determines whether or not there will be any white in the coat. The recessive alleles (c and c1) code for a mutated tyrosinase and result in one of the two forms of albinism: complete and temperature sensitive (more about this in the "White cats" section).ĥ. The dominant allele C codes for a fully functioning protein and all the carriers will show full coat pigmentation. The tyrosinase gene ( C/c/c1) codes for the tyrosinase enzyme. Dominant homozygotes DD and heterozygotes Dd are not affected and express the original coat color.Ĥ. If a cat is a recessive homozygote dd, then the black cats will appear gray, the brown will be lilac, the cinnamon will become fawn, and the orange cats will turn cream. This gene alters the original coat pigmentation by affecting the deposition of the pigment in the hair. Dense/dilute pigment gene ( D/d) codes for melanophilin. This is the reason why male tortoiseshell cats are so rare.ģ. If they are dominant homozygotes ( OO), they will be red toned, recessive homozygotes ( oo) won’t have any orange tones and heterozygotes ( Oo) will be tortoiseshell. If they carry the allele O, they will be red, orange or creamy (depending on the variation), otherwise they won’t have any orange tones to their fur.įemales have two X chromosomes which means they will carry two alleles of the gene. Because males have just one copy of the X chromosome, they can carry only one of the alleles of this gene – either O or o. The dominant allele O codes for orange tones, and the recessive allele o for the non-orange pigmentation (black or brown). The co-dominant red gene ( O/o), found on the X chromosome, determines whether there will be any red variations to fur color or not. The intensity and pattern of these colors depends on the other genes involved in formulating the final feline phenotype.Ģ. Dominant allele B codes for black color, recessive allele b for chocolate and recessive allele b1 for cinnamon. This gene codes for the eumelanin pigment. Brown, chocolate, cinnamon and similar coat colors are products of the feline primary gene for coat color ( B/b/b1). Have you ever wondered about the role of genetics in your cat’s captivating looks? Here is a short guide through the cat coat genetics.ġ.
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