Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 3 d ago, last 23 min ago, peak #1

Scientists Solve the Genetic Mystery of Orange Cats

Original: 🐈 NEWS: Two # research teams independently traced orange fur in # cats . Because females carry two X # chromosomes and i

Two research teams have independently identified the genetic basis of orange fur in domestic cats, ending a decades-long puzzle. The mutation affects a gene on the X chromosome. Because females carry two X chromosomes and randomly inactivate one in each cell, female cats carrying the mutation develop mottled calico and tortoiseshell coats, while the vast majority of orange tabby cats are male.

Why now: It is a long-standing genetics mystery newly solved by two independent teams at the same time, a striking coincidence in cat biology.

domestic catsScienceAlertX chromosomecalico cats

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• 🐈 NEWS: Two # research teams independently traced orange fur in # cats . Because females carry two X # chromosomes and inactivate one per cell, they develop # calico and tortoiseshell patterns while most orange cats are male. 👉 https://www. sciencealert.com/secret-of-ora… · tksst@fediscience.org · 21

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