9/17/2023 0 Comments Ginger orange tabby cat maleBecause the Xs are inactivated at random, the pattern on each tortoiseshell cat is distinct. If the X chromosome carrying the gene for black fur gets inactivated, that cell will instead create orange fur, however, if the X chromosome carrying the gene for orange fur is inactivated, that cell will create black fur. The earlier the inactivation, the larger the patch of fur derived from each lyonized progenitor cell. Every cell has one active and one silenced X chromosome (known as a Barr body), and as the cells continue to divide, they will take the colour from those eight progenitor cells. Because the female has two X chromosomes (one from each parent), x-inactivation or lyonization occurs during early development (usually around the eight-cell stage, but it can occur later). If a female inherits one O and one o, she will be tortoiseshell, which is a mixture of ginger (o) and red (O). In cats with orange fur, pheomelanin (red pigment) completely replaces eumelanin (black pigment).Īs we know, females have two X chromosomes (one from each parent), and males have one X (from the mother) and one Y (from the father).įor the male to be ginger, he only needs to inherit the X from the mother or father who carries the dominant O. O is dominant over non-orange (o), and O determines whether a cat will produce eumelanin or not (dominant epistasis). Also known as orange, red and marmalade, the ginger coat colour is sex-linked, which means it occurs on the X chromosome and is symbolised by the letter O (for orange).
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