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Copal Coat Color In Kurilian Bobtail (e^c)
| Acronym: | COPAL |
| Gene: | MC1R |
| Mutation: | c.640_669del |
| Inheritance: | Autosomal recessive |
| Sample type: | CHS (Cheek Swab), WBE (Whole Blood EDTA) |
| Method: |
Genetics and characteristics
Coat color in cats is an important congenital characteristic along with hair length and growth pattern. Coat color is determined by the expression of two melanin pigments, eumelanin (black/brown) and pheomelanin (yellow/red) in a variety of mammalian species including cats. The Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) gene plays an essential role in the regulation of coat color determination and it is commonly referred to as the E (extension) Locus. It encodes the key signaling molecule on melanocytes and it controls the production and balance of the pheomelanin and eumelanin pigments. So far three variants of the MC1R gene have been detected in cats, in Burmese, Kurilian Bobtail, and Norwegian Forest breeds. The variant found in Kurilian Bobtail cats is a consequence of a deletion resulting in the brown tabby cats being born with a warm reddish tone and exhibiting a modification of their original color during their first year of life. As eumelanin disappears from hairs with age, kittens brighten and adults show an apricot-red coat color known as „copal“ or „carnelian“.
The copal color in Burmese cats has an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance meaning only cats with two mutated variants will show a reddish coat color. Cats that are carrying only one mutated gene will not show a red phenotype but will act as carriers of the specific mutation in the MC1R gene and potentially pass it to their offspring. Since the completely red coat color develops later with age, genetic testing can identify carriers and help breeders in future mating pairs selection.
Results Reported As
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References:
Abitbol, M., Gache, V. (2019). Copal, a new MC1R allele in the domestic cat. Animal genetics, 50(5), 553–554. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12829
Bychkova, E.O., Golubeva, N.A., Filippova, E.A. et al. (2020). A New Mutation in the MC1R Gene Leads to Unique Carnelian Color in Kurilian Bobtails. Russ J Genet. 56, 108–111. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795420010020