Recent research has made significant progress in unraveling the genetic puzzle behind the diversity of cat colors. Geneticist Greg Barsh and his team at Stanford University have discovered that a gene named Arhgap36 is more active in the skin cells of orange cats. High RNA production levels from this gene are linked to mutations on the X chromosome, explaining why male cats are generally orange while female cats often exhibit a mix of colors.
The study revealed that Arhgap36 mutations occur on the single X chromosome in male cats. Female cats, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes, one of which is inactivated, leading to patches of different colors on their bodies. In rare cases where mutations are present on both X chromosomes, female cats can be entirely orange.
Arhgap36 increases pheomelanin pigment production in melanocyte cells, responsible for orange and yellow hues. Researchers demonstrated that genetic combinations from black and orange cat parents result in a wide variety of color patterns. For calico and tortoiseshell cats, additional mutations affect melanocyte spread, creating their unique appearance.
For over 10,000 years, the color diversity in cats has been a genetic curiosity during their coexistence with humans. Mutations like those in Arhgap36 influence color without negatively impacting health or behavior.
~ Ishaq Ahmed
(SciPen World Team)
Sources:
ScienceAlert
Times of India
StudyFinds