Researchers solve genetic mystery of orange cats
Two independent research teams that published works simultaneously in Current Biology said they have identified the gene mutation that triggers the ginger hue in orange tabby cats.
It's a modification, they say, of the gene ARHGAP36 on the X chromosome.
Watch: Cat saves dog from attacking coyotes
This explains why orange cats are predominantly male. Males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, whereas females have two X chromosomes and need two copies of the mutated gene to go completely orange, a less likely scenario.
More often, female cats wired with the ginger gene have coats that are patchy calico or a 'tortoiseshell' blend. This comes from having the orange-coloring mutation on one X chromosome and a standard dark-coloring gene on the other X chromosome.
'Identifying the gene has been a longtime dream, so it's a joy to have finally cracked it,' said Professor Hiroyuki Sasaki, a geneticist at Kyushu University in Japan, in a story published by Neuroscience News.
A second research team studying the inner workings of orange cats was based at Stanford University.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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