[Jacob-list] calico

[Dan Carpenter]

Calico pattern in cats occurs because the eumelanin/pheomelanin controlling
genes are on the X chromosome.  Females have two X chromosomes, but only one
is used per cell, the other is densely coiled into what's called a Barr
body.  If the female cat is heterozygous, some cells will "put away" the
allele for eumelanin and be black(ish), while other cells will "put away"
the allele for phaeomelanin and be red(ish).  Since phaeomelanin cannot be
expressed in wool, sheep cannot be calico (at least not in the cat sense).

 

-Dan

 

From: jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com
[mailto:jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of Betty Berlenbach
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 2:39 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Subject: [Jacob-list] calico

 

I believe in cats calico patterning only shows up in females.  Is it
possible that this is some sort of sex linked gene and only shows up in
female jacobs as well?  

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