Scientists have discovered genes that control the color patterns of cats

September 7, 2021 (Huntsville, Alabama)-A member of the feline family, commonly referred to as cats, comes in various sizes, fur colors and patterns

In the grasslands of Southeast Asia and India, tigers with black stripes on orange or white backgrounds can be seen everywhere

Scientists agree that hair follicle cells are the source of the black, brown, yellow, and red pigments that color hair or fur

Previous studies have shown that once the melanocytes in the hair follicles produce pigment, the stripes in the fetus of tabby cats will be obvious

The origin of coat color is well known, but the mechanism that initiates the coat color pattern is not well understood

In the early 1950s, Alan Turing, a pioneer in the computer field, proposed a theory: If molecules shuttle through tissues at different speeds, molecules that inhibit and activate each other can produce periodic patterns in nature.

"The genes that control simple color changes, such as albinism or melanosis, are mostly the same in all mammals," said Greg Barsh, an expert in animal morphology, who is an M.

"However, the biological principles behind mammalian color patterns have long been a mystery, and we now have a new understanding of this mystery through domestic cats

Dr.

McGowan and Kailin have established partnerships with several wildcat trap-neutralization and release projects to collect fetal tissue that may be discarded during sterilization operations

"We found from morphological studies that even before melanocytes enter the epidermis, these cells are destined to signal a specific coat color," McGowan said

Based on this new discovery, Kailin performed single-cell gene expression analysis on the skin cells of fetal cats, and the analysis time was just before the thick and thin spots became obvious

Kailin said: "Our analysis identified a molecular network involved in pattern formation

"Some molecules, including Dkk4, are considered to be synergistic activators and inhibitors, as Alan Turing predicted 70 years ago

Further experiments also show that Dkk4 is related to other color modes of cats

Barsh said: "In the Ticked phenotype of Abyssinian cats, there is a consensus that there are no dark tabby markings

In summary, the results of this study confirmed the direct role of Dkk4 in the establishment of cat color patterns
.
Variation in coat color and pattern is an important platform for studying gene function and interaction
.
Previous work in Barsh's laboratory has shown that coat color genes are involved in many other important biological pathways, some of which are related to human health
.

Original search:

Developmental genetics of color pattern establishment in cats