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In this chapter we will take the genetics of two cat breeds, turning it into instructions, to guide our way through this journey that is chapter one 

Along the way I will do several drafts of the two breeds

The information from the genetics has an affect on the home of the Laminae and their way of life 

The genetics of cat breeds dictate what happens in each chapter 

 Maine Coon / Ragdoll

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DNA:

polydactyl gene

Polydactyly, the condition of having extra toes, is caused by a genetic mutation that can be passed down through generations. It's a dominant trait, meaning only one copy of the mutated gene is needed for a cat to express the trait

agouti Gene 

the agouti gene (A) determines whether a cat will have a tabby pattern (banded hairs) or a solid color (non-agouti)

This allele leads to the production of both yellow and black pigment in the hair, resulting in the banded appearance characteristic of tabby cats. The banding effect is caused by alternating bands of black and yellow pigment along the length of the hair shaft

Non-Agouti 

This allele results in a solid coat because it blocks the production of yellow pigment. Since only black pigment is produced, the hairs appear solid and the tabby pattern is masked

black Gene

responsible for producing the eumelanin pigment, which gives cats their black fur

This gene is dominant, meaning a cat only needs to inherit one copy of the B allele from either parent to have a black coat. 

related to the amount of black pigment in the eumelanin pathway

Tyrosine, a precursor amino acid, is converted to L-DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine) by the enzyme tyrosinase, requiring tetrahydrobiopterin as a cofactor

Tyrosinase then converts L-DOPA to dopaquinone

Dopaquinone undergoes spontaneous cyclization to form L-dopachrome

L-dopachrome can be converted to either 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) or 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI)

Both DHICA and DHI then polymerize to form eumelanin, the dark brown to black pigment

Eumelanin is packaged into melanosomes within melanocytes and then transferred to keratinocytes

The recessive form of this gene, "b", results in a chocolate color, and the recessive form "b'" results in a cinnamon color

chocolate Gene

cinnamon Gene

Dilution

M3 and M4

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Ragdolls inherit a temperature-sensitive allele of the tyrosinase enzyme, which is responsible for melanin production. 
Ragdolls come in various colors, including seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, and cream, with corresponding dilutes and variations like lynx and tortoiseshell

CHL1 and CNTN6 gene

fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene

inhibitor (I) gene, which can create the "chinchilla" coat, and the agouti (A) gene, which underlies tabby patterns

wide band (Wb) gene

The Agouti gene (A), with its dominant A allele and recessive a allele, plays a role in the color of the hair shaft, explains a site dedicated to Persians. The wide band gene (Wb) also influences coat color, affecting the distribution of pigment granules

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a mutation in the TYR gene, which codes for the tyrosinase enzyme. Tyrosinase is crucial for producing melanin, the pigment that gives fur its color. The mutation in Siamese cats means the tyrosinase enzyme is heat-sensitive

There are other alleles at the TYR locus that can cause different color patterns, including Burmese, sepia, mink, and full albinism

glitter is caused by a mutation in the Fgfr2 gene

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The "Agouti" (A) gene is responsible for this tabby pattern, with Agouti being dominant to non-agouti (a)

Ta gene

Cinnamon (b1) gene

 a recessive gene, often symbolized as "d," which dilutes the expression of black pigment

non-Color-Point Carrier

The blue-grey coat of the Russian Blue is a result of a dilute gene, which reduces the intensity of the black pigment in the hair

The dilute gene is recessive, meaning that a cat needs two copies of the gene (dd) to express the blue-grey color

When two non-CPC Russian Blues are bred together, they will always produce a litter of blue cats because they each carry two copies of the recessive "d" genes 

they can produce a litter with mixed colors, including solid blue or blue-point cats

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Sphynx cat's hairlessness is primarily due to a mutation in the KRT71 gene

The hr mutation is recessive, meaning that a cat needs two copies of the hr variant 

a genetic mutation, specifically a dominant allele associated with osteochondrodysplasia, a condition affecting cartilage development

known as the Fd gene, is autosomal dominant, meaning only one copy of the gene is needed

Heterozygous mutant cats (Fd/fd) can also experience osteochondrodysplasia

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mutations in the Ch1 and Ch2 genes, which may influence allergen production

Sunshine Gene

Siberians can inherit the colorpoint gene, leading to the Neva Masquerade coloration, which is a debated topic among cat registries

a recessive mutation in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) that results in the amber coat coloration

This mutation leads to the replacement of black pigment with yellow pigment, resulting in a golden coat

The expression of amber coloration is also influenced by the presence or absence of the "Orange" gene, which can result in red or tortoiseshell variations

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Genetic studies have identified specific genes, such as EPAS1 and EGLN1, that are associated with high-altitude adaptation 

Acromelanism

Allelic variant: The Himalayan gene is an allelic variant, specifically ch of the locus C, which is later identified as the tyrosinase gene TYR

 It's recessive to full color and chinchilla, but dominant to albino

Each generation of Savannahs is marked with an "F" followed by a number, indicating the degree of serval ancestry

F1 Savannahs are the first generation offspring, having one Serval parent, typically a Serval father and a domestic mother

F2 Savannahs are the second generation, having one Serval grandparent, making them 25% serval and 75% domestic cat

As generations progress (F3, F4, etc.), the percentage of serval DNA decreases, with each generation having a Serval ancestor further back in the pedigree

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interaction of the agouti and inhibitor genes. The agouti gene controls the presence of bands of color on individual hairs, while the inhibitor gene affects the expression of that banding

the agouti signaling protein (ASIP), dictates whether hairs will have bands of color. In most cats, the ASIP gene causes a switch between black and red pigments in each hair, creating a banding pattern. However, mutations in this gene can prevent this switch, resulting in solid colors

Inhibitor Gene:

This gene, located on the X chromosome, influences the expression of the agouti gene. It determines whether the banding pattern will be full or partial, leading to the various coat colors and patterns seen in Egyptian Maus

The combination of the agouti and inhibitor alleles results in four primary colors: silver, bronze, smoke, and black

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their short legs, a result of a naturally occurring autosomal dominant genetic mutation that affects bone growth in the legs. This mutation, while dominant, is also lethal when homozygous, meaning kittens with two copies of the mutation die in utero. Therefore, Munchkin cats are typically heterozygous, carrying one copy of the dominant gene and one copy of the normal gene

The gene for Munchkinism is located on an autosome (not a sex chromosome) and is dominant, meaning only one copy of the gene is needed for the short-legged trait to be expressed

When two copies of the Munchkin gene are inherited (homozygous), the resulting embryos are non-viable and die before birth

Munchkin cats that are heterozygous (having one Munchkin gene and one normal gene) 

The Turkish Van's coat pattern, where color is restricted to the head and tail, is a result of the piebald white spotting gene. This gene causes a form of partial leucism

The "W" gene can also mask the Van pattern, resulting in all-white cats

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The pointed coloration (darker face, ears, paws, and tail) is inherited from the Siamese, resulting from the presence of the "Bs" gene

“Si" gene, leading to the distinctive "snowshoe" appearance on the paws

Somalis are always longhaired, a result of inheriting two copies of the recessive longhair gene (denoted as "ll" in their basic genotype), meaning they breed true for long hair

They are also always ticked tabby, with the basic genotype including "TaTa," which means they breed true for the ticked tabby pattern

Somalis are not allowed to have any white spotting (except for a white chin, lips, and nostrils), and the genotype reflects this with "ss," meaning they are homozygous for the non-white spotted allele

four coat colors for Somalis: ruddy, red, blue, and fawn

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a dominant gene (often referred to as "M") that affects tail development and can lead to a range of tail lengths, from full-length to tailless

Homozygous Manx cats (MM) often die in utero

Heterozygous Manx cats (Mm), which are all Manx cats, can have a short, stubby tail

The solid brown coat is a result of the "b" allele, which modifies the normal black pigment (B) to a brown or chocolate color. This brown allele is recessive, meaning that a cat must have two copies of the "b" allele (b/b) to express the brown coat

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The Himalayan gene series creates the three patterns in Tonkinese: Solid, Mink, and Point

The "Mink" pattern, which was originally the defining pattern of the breed, results from a cross between a Solid and a Point

The "Point" pattern is similar to the Siamese pattern and has the most contrast between the points and the body color

The "Solid" pattern is similar to the Burmese pattern, with the least contrast between the points and the body color

A novel gene (cm) has been identified in some Thai cats, particularly those with Burmese or Siamese ancestry, resulting in a "mocha" coloration

The Siamese gene (C) is responsible for the dark "points"

mutation in the TYR gene

Thai cats also carry genes for various fur colors, including black, chocolate, and dilute genes

Thai cats do not carry the longhair gene, resulting in a short, flat-lying coat

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homozygous for ticked tabby (TaTa), meaning it carries two copies of the dominant allele for ticked tabby and lacks the recessive allele for non-ticked

The Singapura also carries a gene that restricts the color to a sepia (brown) hue, resulting in the distinctive sepia ticked tabby coat pattern