Biological symmetry: Pattern in coats in cats and dogs

May 3, 2010
  • Animals have symmetry like in zebra coat.
  • Some kinds of cats have symmetry in their coat.
  • The other cats and most dogs have asymmetry.
  • What is the mechanism making symmetry in their coats?
  • Tortoiseshell cats have asymmetry caused by their genes linked on X chromosome inactivated, which is known as X-inactivation.

It is well known that most wild animals have symmetry, like in zebra coat.

(from Wikipedia)

In tortoiseshell cats, they have genes related to the two coat colors linked to X chromosomes in the manner of hetero. One of X chromosomes is inactivated randomly in the cells at a stage of their development. If they are female, genes determining one coat color, black, are activated, and another color was suppressed by X-inactivation. It makes a colored patch, since the cells derived from it maintain inactivation of the X chromosome. Almost all tortoiseshell cats are female, since male have only one X chromosome and genes for one color.

(from Wikipedia)

I have heard from a manager of a pet shop that some kind of cat have symmetry in body coat pattern,  but pattern of most dogs could be asymmetrical in male and female.

What is the mechanism making asymmetry in male dogs? That may be not caused by X-inactivation. Asymmetry in body coat colors of cats and dogs could be related to the domestication by human. What are the molecular and genetic mechanism involved in making symmetry of body pattern in wild animals?

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posted in biology by ph3j

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