Scientists Decode the DNA Behind Orange Cats
Scientists have pinpointed a small deletion in the regulatory region of the Arhgap36 gene that explains why many cats have orange coats. The missing segment, about five kilobases long, causes cells that produce orange fur to produce roughly thirteen times more RNA from this gene than cells from non-orange cats.
The deletion sits on the X chromosome. Male cats, which have only one X chromosome, show orange coats when they inherit this variant because a single copy is enough to affect the entire body. Female cats, with two X chromosomes, can inherit the variant on one chromosome and a different color variant on the other. During early development, cells randomly inactivate one X chromosome, leading to patches of orange and dark fur seen in tortoiseshell cats. Calico cats add white areas that create larger, separated patches.
The discovery also clarifies that orange fur does not correlate with intelligence; scientists have not found any link between the color and a cat’s brain.
Key takeaways
- A five-kilobase deletion in the Arhgap36 regulatory region drives orange coat color.
- Orange fur cells produce about thirteen times more Arhgap36 RNA than non-orange cells.
- The variant is on the X chromosome, explaining why most orange cats are male.
- Female cats exhibit tortoiseshell patterns through random X-chromosome inactivation.
- Orange fur has no proven effect on a cat’s intelligence.
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Originally reported by iHeartCats. Read the full article.
Cover photo by muhammed yıldız via Pexels.
