Collaring the gene for impurrfect ears.Collaring the gene for impurrfect ears It started in 1981, when a stray black cat with funny ears mooched a meal from a family in Lakewood, Calif., and moved in. From that simple encounter, and the birth of some kittens, grew a worldwide debate about the genetics behind those curly ears--a debate that appears closer to resolution with a newly released research report. Since 1983, cat fanciers have bred the unusual mutants -- now called American curl American curl a medium-sized cat with short coat. Their distinguishing feature is a smooth curl of the ear cartilage with the tips pointing toward the middle of the head. This is inherited as a dominant trait; kittens develop the curl in the first week of life. cats--with an eye toward developing a show breed. In analyzing data on 81 litters (383 kittens), Roy Robinson of the St. Stephens St. Stephens, St. Stephen's, Saint Stephens, or Saint Stephen's may refer to the following: Population centers
A pattern of inheritance in which only one of the two copies of an autosomal gene must be abnormal for a genetic condition or disease to occur. An autosomal gene is a gene that is located on one of the autosomes or non-sex chromosomes. . That means any cat with even one copy of the gene will show the trait. But some breeders have wondered whether other genes might modify the expression of the curl gene and thus the appearance of the curl itself -- a complication that would slow efforts to establish a new breed. And some worry that the curl, like other ear mutations in cats, may bring with it a risk of unwanted abnormalities. Some cats with genes for forward-flopping ears, for example, have stubby stub·by adj. stub·bi·er, stub·bi·est 1. a. Having the nature of or suggesting a stub, as in shortness, broadness, or thickness: stubby fingers and toes. b. tails, swollen feet and lethargic natures. In the November/December 1989 JOURNAL OF HEREDITY heredity, transmission from generation to generation through the process of reproduction in plants and animals of factors which cause the offspring to resemble their parents. That like begets like has been a maxim since ancient times. , Robinson reports finding no such defects in any of the crosses he has analyzed. He cautions that a final judgment of the curl gene, which apparently codes for a slight overproduction o·ver·pro·duce tr.v. o·ver·pro·duced, o·ver·pro·duc·ing, o·ver·pro·duc·es To produce in excess of need or demand. o of cartilage along the inner lining of the ear, will require data from more cats carrying dual copies of the gene. But cat breeders say it looks as if the curt mutation has provided a new and healthy breed -- and one with an outstanding temperament. One cat association has already accepted the curl cat as an official breed, and another has granted it probationary status, says breeder breeder 1. a person with an animal enterprise involving the multiplication of the herd, flock or group. 2. a female animal used basically for the production of saleable young. Bradley L. Mayer of Somerville, N.J. To pass the probationary muster, he says, the candidates "walked across the conference table, sat in each of the directors' laps, kissed them, and that was it." |
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