British Shorthair Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow: The Genetic Mystery of the Wb Gene
British Shorthair Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow: The Genetic Mystery of the Wb Gene
In the world of British Shorthairs, Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow (also known as Golden Shell and Golden Chinchilla) captivate with their unique charm. The secret behind these mesmerizing coat colors lies in the workings of the Wb gene. This article delves into the genetic mechanisms of the Wb gene, unraveling the mysteries of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow formation, and exploring how breeders in Russia and Europe have selectively bred to create even more extreme golden hues.
The Genetic Mystery of the Wb Gene
The Wb gene is a complex polygene whose role is to control the synthesis of pigment at the base of the hair. In the absence of the dominant pigment inhibitor gene I (silver), the Wb gene inhibits pigment synthesis at the base of the hair, creating a light yellow section between the base of the hair and the normally pigmented section. Through selective breeding, the width of this light yellow section can be greatly increased.
We commonly use Wb, Wb+, and Wb++ to describe cats with normal, moderate, and extremely wide bands, respectively.
Formation of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow
The formation of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow is closely related to the interaction of the Wb gene and the dominant pigment inhibitor gene I:
Golden Shell/Golden Chinchilla: Golden Tabby cats have golden pigment at the tips of their hair, while the base of the hair is inhibited from pigment synthesis by the Wb gene. This results in a unique appearance with golden tips and white roots.
Golden Shadow/Golden Longhair: Golden Shadow cats also have golden pigment at the tips of their hair, but unlike Golden Tabby cats, their base hair is less inhibited by the Wb gene, resulting in a softer golden shadow.
The Emergence of Extreme Golden in Russia
Russian breeders have made significant advances in breeding golden cats, creating even more extreme golden cats through selective breeding. These cats have a more vibrant golden pigment at the tips of their hair, while the base of the hair is closer to pure white.
This extreme golden is referred to as "copper" by some breeders. "Copper" cats are characterized by white toes, white bellies, golden fur, and black (such as black or blue) limited to the tail tip, with no dark nose line.
Breeding Trends in Europe
European breeders are also working towards breeding more extreme golden cats. They crossbreed with tabby cats with fine stripes, attempting to eliminate the striped patterns on the hair, making the gold color more pure. However, silver and gold cats based on ticks still retain some tick hair (light gray for silver and yellow for gold), but this does not affect the overall visual effect.
Controversy: What is True Gold?
As the breeding of golden cats progresses, controversy arises over what constitutes true gold. Some breeders believe that true gold cats should not exhibit significant pigment reduction, while others believe that without a certain degree of pigment reduction, the brightest gold cannot be achieved.
Conclusion
The genetic mechanisms of the Wb gene are a complex topic that affects the coat color expression of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow cats. Breeders in Russia and Europe have created more extreme golden cats through selective breeding, sparking debate over what constitutes true gold.
Whether Golden Tabby, Golden Shadow, or extreme copper, these unique and beautiful coat colors demonstrate the charm of feline genetic diversity.
In the world of British Shorthairs, Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow (also known as Golden Shell and Golden Chinchilla) captivate with their unique charm. The secret behind these mesmerizing coat colors lies in the workings of the Wb gene. This article delves into the genetic mechanisms of the Wb gene, unraveling the mysteries of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow formation, and exploring how breeders in Russia and Europe have selectively bred to create even more extreme golden hues.
The Genetic Mystery of the Wb Gene
The Wb gene is a complex polygene whose role is to control the synthesis of pigment at the base of the hair. In the absence of the dominant pigment inhibitor gene I (silver), the Wb gene inhibits pigment synthesis at the base of the hair, creating a light yellow section between the base of the hair and the normally pigmented section. Through selective breeding, the width of this light yellow section can be greatly increased.
We commonly use Wb, Wb+, and Wb++ to describe cats with normal, moderate, and extremely wide bands, respectively.
Formation of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow
The formation of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow is closely related to the interaction of the Wb gene and the dominant pigment inhibitor gene I:
Golden Shell/Golden Chinchilla: Golden Tabby cats have golden pigment at the tips of their hair, while the base of the hair is inhibited from pigment synthesis by the Wb gene. This results in a unique appearance with golden tips and white roots.
Golden Shadow/Golden Longhair: Golden Shadow cats also have golden pigment at the tips of their hair, but unlike Golden Tabby cats, their base hair is less inhibited by the Wb gene, resulting in a softer golden shadow.
The Emergence of Extreme Golden in Russia
Russian breeders have made significant advances in breeding golden cats, creating even more extreme golden cats through selective breeding. These cats have a more vibrant golden pigment at the tips of their hair, while the base of the hair is closer to pure white.
This extreme golden is referred to as "copper" by some breeders. "Copper" cats are characterized by white toes, white bellies, golden fur, and black (such as black or blue) limited to the tail tip, with no dark nose line.
Breeding Trends in Europe
European breeders are also working towards breeding more extreme golden cats. They crossbreed with tabby cats with fine stripes, attempting to eliminate the striped patterns on the hair, making the gold color more pure. However, silver and gold cats based on ticks still retain some tick hair (light gray for silver and yellow for gold), but this does not affect the overall visual effect.
Controversy: What is True Gold?
As the breeding of golden cats progresses, controversy arises over what constitutes true gold. Some breeders believe that true gold cats should not exhibit significant pigment reduction, while others believe that without a certain degree of pigment reduction, the brightest gold cannot be achieved.
Conclusion
The genetic mechanisms of the Wb gene are a complex topic that affects the coat color expression of Golden Tabby and Golden Shadow cats. Breeders in Russia and Europe have created more extreme golden cats through selective breeding, sparking debate over what constitutes true gold.
Whether Golden Tabby, Golden Shadow, or extreme copper, these unique and beautiful coat colors demonstrate the charm of feline genetic diversity.
This article is original, please keep the link when forwarding:https://www.5zo.net/showinfo-3-81976-0.html