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| Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed | Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Garfield, Puss in Boots, Aristocats' Toulouse – cultural icons maybe, ginger most certainly. | Garfield, Puss in Boots, Aristocats' Toulouse – cultural icons maybe, ginger most certainly. |
| And now scientists across two continents have uncovered the DNA mystery that has given our furry friends, particularly males, their notable colour. | And now scientists across two continents have uncovered the DNA mystery that has given our furry friends, particularly males, their notable colour. |
| They discovered that ginger cats are missing a section of their genetic code, which means the cells responsible for their skin, eye and fur tone produce lighter colours. | They discovered that ginger cats are missing a section of their genetic code, which means the cells responsible for their skin, eye and fur tone produce lighter colours. |
| The breakthrough has brought delight to the scientists but also the thousands of cat lovers that originally crowdfunded the research. | The breakthrough has brought delight to the scientists but also the thousands of cat lovers that originally crowdfunded the research. |
| The scientists hope solving the puzzle could also help shed light on whether orange coloured cats are at increased risk of certain health conditions. | The scientists hope solving the puzzle could also help shed light on whether orange coloured cats are at increased risk of certain health conditions. |
| It has been known for decades that it is genetics that gives orange tabby cats their distinctive colouring, but exactly where in the genetic code has evaded scientists till now. | It has been known for decades that it is genetics that gives orange tabby cats their distinctive colouring, but exactly where in the genetic code has evaded scientists till now. |
| Two teams of scientists at Kyushu University in Japan and Stanford University in the US have now revealed the mystery in simultaneous papers published on Thursday. | Two teams of scientists at Kyushu University in Japan and Stanford University in the US have now revealed the mystery in simultaneous papers published on Thursday. |
| What the teams found was that in the cells responsible for giving a cat its skin, hair follicles and eyes their colour - melanocytes - one gene, ARHGAP36, was much more active. | What the teams found was that in the cells responsible for giving a cat its skin, hair follicles and eyes their colour - melanocytes - one gene, ARHGAP36, was much more active. |
| Genes are made up of pieces of DNA which give instructions to a cat's cells, like other living creatures, on how to function. | Genes are made up of pieces of DNA which give instructions to a cat's cells, like other living creatures, on how to function. |
| By comparing the DNA from dozens of cats with and without orange fur they found that those with ginger colouring had a section of DNA code missing within this ARHGAP36 gene. | By comparing the DNA from dozens of cats with and without orange fur they found that those with ginger colouring had a section of DNA code missing within this ARHGAP36 gene. |
| Without this DNA the activity of the ARHGAP36 is not suppressed i.e. it is more active. The scientists believe that the gene instructs those melanocytes to produce lighter pigment. | Without this DNA the activity of the ARHGAP36 is not suppressed i.e. it is more active. The scientists believe that the gene instructs those melanocytes to produce lighter pigment. |
| Ginger cats mostly male | Ginger cats mostly male |
| For decades scientists have observed that cats with completely ginger colouring are far more likely to be male. This tallies with the fact that the gene is carried on the X chromosome. | For decades scientists have observed that cats with completely ginger colouring are far more likely to be male. This tallies with the fact that the gene is carried on the X chromosome. |
| Chromosomes are larger sections of DNA, and male cats like other mammals have an X and a Y chromosome, which carry different number of genes. | |
| As it a gene only on the X chromosome in this case controlling the pigment production then one missing piece of DNA is enough to turn a cat fully ginger. | As it a gene only on the X chromosome in this case controlling the pigment production then one missing piece of DNA is enough to turn a cat fully ginger. |
| In comparison female cats have two X chromosomes so the DNA needs to be missing in both chromosomes to increase lighter pigment production to the same extent - it means a mixed colouring is more likely. | In comparison female cats have two X chromosomes so the DNA needs to be missing in both chromosomes to increase lighter pigment production to the same extent - it means a mixed colouring is more likely. |
| "These ginger and black patches form because, early in development, one X chromosome in each cell is randomly switched off," explains Prof Hiroyuki Sasaki, geneticist at Kyushu University. | "These ginger and black patches form because, early in development, one X chromosome in each cell is randomly switched off," explains Prof Hiroyuki Sasaki, geneticist at Kyushu University. |
| "As cells divide, this creates areas with different active coat colour genes, resulting in distinct patches." | "As cells divide, this creates areas with different active coat colour genes, resulting in distinct patches." |
| Calico and tortoiseshell cats with mixed colourings are more likely to be female | Calico and tortoiseshell cats with mixed colourings are more likely to be female |
| Although couched in science, the study originally started off as a passion project for Professor Sasaki. | Although couched in science, the study originally started off as a passion project for Professor Sasaki. |
| He had retired from his university post, but as a cat lover said he wanted to continue working to uncover the orange cat gene in the hope it could "contribute to the overcoming of cat diseases". | He had retired from his university post, but as a cat lover said he wanted to continue working to uncover the orange cat gene in the hope it could "contribute to the overcoming of cat diseases". |
| He and his team raised 10.6m yen (£55,109) via crowdfunding for the research from thousands of fellow cat lovers across Japan and the world. | He and his team raised 10.6m yen (£55,109) via crowdfunding for the research from thousands of fellow cat lovers across Japan and the world. |
| One contributor wrote: "We are siblings in the first and third grades of elementary school. We donated with our pocket money. Use it for research on calico cats." | One contributor wrote: "We are siblings in the first and third grades of elementary school. We donated with our pocket money. Use it for research on calico cats." |
| Professor Sasaki compared the genes of calico cats to those without, using local cats and an international genome database | Professor Sasaki compared the genes of calico cats to those without, using local cats and an international genome database |
| The ARHGAP36 gene is also active in many other areas of the body including the brain and hormonal glands, and is considered important for development. | The ARHGAP36 gene is also active in many other areas of the body including the brain and hormonal glands, and is considered important for development. |
| The researchers think it is possible that the DNA mutation in the gene could cause other changes in these parts of the body linked to health conditions or temperament. | The researchers think it is possible that the DNA mutation in the gene could cause other changes in these parts of the body linked to health conditions or temperament. |
| The ARHGAP36 gene is found in humans and has been linked to skin cancer and hair loss. | The ARHGAP36 gene is found in humans and has been linked to skin cancer and hair loss. |
| "Many cat owners swear by the idea that different coat colours and patterns are linked with different personalities," said Prof Sasaki. | "Many cat owners swear by the idea that different coat colours and patterns are linked with different personalities," said Prof Sasaki. |
| "There's no scientific evidence for this yet, but it's an intriguing idea and one I'd love to explore further." | "There's no scientific evidence for this yet, but it's an intriguing idea and one I'd love to explore further." |