A New Cat Color Is Defying Genetic Expectations

[T_R_Oglodyte]

A New Cat Color Is Defying Genetic Expectations

From roots to tips, this fur tells a tale of evolutionary wonder.

www.popularmechanics.com

 

[Patri]

It’d be nice if the photo showed the color.

 

[DaveNV]

@Patri, here's an article with a picture of the color. Pretty attractive, actually.

New Cat Colour Discovered! Introducing the Salty Liquorice

There’s been an exciting new feline discovery! In this blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the salty liquorice cat and its unique coat.

blog.feliway.com

Dave

 

[Patri]

Pretty attractive, actually.

Yes, they are! I wonder if they will become sought after, and expensive.

 

[DaveNV]

Yes, they are! I wonder if they will become sought after, and expensive.

My guess is yes, once they determine how it can be spread to other assorted cat breeds. Anything new or different tends to become trendy, and expensive.

Dave

 

[BJRSanDiego]

@Patri, here's an article with a picture of the color. Pretty attractive, actually.

New Cat Colour Discovered! Introducing the Salty Liquorice

There’s been an exciting new feline discovery! In this blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the salty liquorice cat and its unique coat.

blog.feliway.com

Dave

I'm a "cat person" and that cat looks great! I have a fondness for orange cats, but I'd take that one!

 

[DaveNV]

I agree. These pictures make it look like it's inherited through the Tuxedo cat color genes, no doubt the body color mutated to the black-to-white variation. It'd be interesting to see how it transfers to other color patterns. Can the underlying gene transfer to tabby, or all the varying shades of chocolate? It'd make for a very interesting kitty.

Dave

 

[DaveNV]

Apparently it's a recessive color gene, called a KIT gene, found in some of these cats. A single KIT gene does not visually produce the color variation. A double KIT gene does produce it. (According to this excerpt from the article on the referenced page:

"The researchers collected DNA samples from five salty licorice cats and studied the material in their lab. They found that none of the cats exhibited the gene variations that usually create the white coloration. The researchers then sequenced the full genome of two of the cats. That is when they discovered a previously unknown mutation that affects a specific gene called KIT. They named this gene w-sal, a nod to the salmiakki salty licorice candy that is a regional delicacy.

Lohi’s team then tested the DNA of the five salty licorice cats, along with 178 samples from other normal-colored cats in their biobank. All of the salty licorice cats had two copies of the recessive KIT gene. A few of the other cats had one copy of this gene but did not show the salty licorice color. Most of the cats did not have the gene."

Quoted from: https://cats.com/salty-licorice

So it seems to be pretty specific in its process. Cool!

Dave