A new color of cat’s coat called “salty liquorice” has been discovered by researchers in Finland. Cats that have this peculiar color coat are also known as “Salmiak cats”. The word Salmiak is actually the Finnish word for salty liquorice and it was given from the Finnish researcher, that discover this particular coat, to cats that are black with speckles of white. Salmiak cats not only have those speckles but they also present a tuxedo pattern around the neck, chest, belly and paws. This peculiar pattern of the coat it is obtained because the hair of the cats change/fade from the root to tip. The hair in fact is black closer to the skin and fade to white towards the tip. This is kind of a genetic big deal.
Cats as we have observed early in the semester, comes in two basic colors black and orange. Every other color involve a degree of fading of the one of the two and or a combination of both. The Salmiak pattern is mostly noticeable in solid black cats, but it can occur in brown tabby, tortoiseshell and dilution (blue) and in both male and female. Salmiak cats, instead it has been discovered missing the gene that fades the color. Genotype testing revealed the missing of the all known variants associated with the phenotype white-haired: full White (W), spotting (Ws) and the Birman white Gloves associated (Wg)
All those phenotypic variation can usually be found on the allele of the KIT proto-oncogene (KIT). The absence of the KIT gene drove the researcher Dr. Heidi Anderson to sequence the whole genome of the cat. Through testing, researchers, were able to confirm the lack of the coding variants. Salmiak-colored cats in fact, have a deletion of approximately 95kb located at the 65kb downstream of the KIT gene. Moreover, through blood testing of 181 cats, PCR and gel electrophoresis it was confirmed that the genetic mutation is recessive and only by crossbreeding two homozygous the Salmiak pattern can be seen as a phenotype.
Cats have always fascinating me from a genetic point of view. If we think about it the arrays of crossing overs and genetic mutations can affect vastly the way cat look like. By studying in detail cat genome other rare cats mutation like the Salmiak could be discovered and help us understand better feline coat coloring.
Salmiak cat color compared to salty liquorice.
What a cute kitty. The coat pattern reminds me of the tabby because they usually have the white belly and a full orange face, but this time it's black. it's so interesting that although cats have been around for so long, there are still genetic changes occurring within the species that changes their appearance.
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