Cat Genetics

Question 1

Qualitative traits

Answer 1

• Mendelian, single gene
• few genes
• discreet variables

Question 2

Quantitative

Answer 2

• controlled by many genes
• continuos variables

Question 3

Colors

Answer 3

• Presence/absence of 2 pigments: Pheomelanin, eumelanin
• Everything else is modification of those

Question 4

Pheomelanin

Answer 4

red, yellow orange

Question 5

Eumelanin

Answer 5

• black

Question 6

Cause of darker “points”

Answer 6

Temperature dependence

Question 7

Sample 2:

• The orange / non-orange gene is sex-linked -> co-dom. The O allele
  gives orange color; o allele gives
  non-orange.
• If an orange queen mates with a non-orange
  tom, will there be any all-orange kittens? If
  so, can we determine the sex of these kittens
  by their color?

Answer 7

Yes, all kittens will be orange.

No, we cannot determine the sex of kittens by their color since both male and female kittens will have orange fur .

Question 8

Temperature dependence

Answer 8

• insulators cause fur to be whiter

Question 9

Sex-linked: can we determine the sex of the cat via its colors?

Answer 9

• yes

Question 10

crossing two white cats should only produce white kittens

Answer 10

• false

Question 11

How can we produce tailless kittens without producing homozygotes (which would die during development)?

Answer 11

• Have one parent manx and the other non-manx (with a tail)

Question 12

Mutations

Answer 12

• happen spontaneously
• often, but most die out
• not initiated by humans (usually)
• Often considered a negative thing
• allows for evolution

Question 13

Inbreeding (disease)

Answer 13

• breeding of closely related individuals
• increase homozygosity
• YAY: necessary to solidify breed traits
• NAY: can increase incidence of phenotypes of deleterious recessive genes

Question 14

Genetic bases can be seen when ____ are known – so maybe just more ____

Answer 14

when PEDIGREES are known, so maybe just more NOTICEABLE

Question 15

Hypoallergenic Cat

Answer 15

• Allerca Lifestyle Pets company
• most allergies are to a glycoprotein produced by cat (saliva, sebaceous glands)
• discovered mutations in some cats
• Selectively bred these cats (with DNA confirmation)

Question 16

Hypoallergenic cat breeds?

Answer 16

• many claims about this
• some depend on hair length, shedding amount, (hairless)
• Probably variation among breeds

Question 17

Genetic savings and Clone

Answer 17

• company that would clone ur cat
• $50k

Question 18

Define cloning

Answer 18

• DNA taken from donor cell
• inserted into egg with host DNA removed
• egg develops into “clone” of donor

Question 19

Keep in mind for cloning

Answer 19

• expensive
• may take many tries
• not everything is genetic (behavior, environmental influence)