this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2024
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typical internet cats. videos, pics, memes welcome!

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[–] [email protected] 92 points 1 month ago (1 children)

None of this explains why they share just one brain cell

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 month ago (3 children)

In most other mammals, mutations in a protein called Mc1r lead to red hair color. But this has failed to explain orange color patterns in cats. “It’s been a genetic mystery, a conundrum,” Barsh tells Science’s Sara Reardon.

Instead, the new studies point to a gene called Arhgap36, a protein on the X chromosome. It had never been in the lineup of potential candidates for the “orange gene,” so to speak, because it controls aspects of embryonic development.

But the change wasn’t due to a dangerous mutation. Rather, there was a small portion of DNA missing, preventing the unusual amount of Arhgap36 from affecting anything aside from the melanocytes. So, cats with the orange variation “are not only healthy, but also cute,” Science writes.

Interesting how we always talk about modifying or adding DNA but strange how removing some of it can end up with complicated results

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Arhgap36

So you're telling me my cat is airgapped? I'd believe it, she definitely isn't receiving any intelligence updates.

[–] felykiosa 10 points 1 month ago

You can't update one braincell

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

orange bois were deprecated in the 1800s

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The author was confused and that was written poorly. It is a mutation. A mutation is any change to the DNA sequence. Specifically it's called a point mutation deletion. A point mutation is a small mutation of one nucleotide.

The recipe for proteins on DNA is stored as a 3 nucleotide code. 3 nucleotides represent 1 amino acid (A protein is a chain of amino acids). A small deletion (1 or 2 nucleotidds) in the active coding sequence messes up the entire sequence.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_and_RNA_codon_tables

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yes! By defintion mutation is a change in DNA, but most people consider it more of a modification rather than the occasional just missing bit.

We usually refer to missing DNAs as cancers since damaged and missing genetic data are the leading cause of unregulated cell division

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Not quite, cancers are caused by any mutation that causes the regulatory proteins to stop being produced. Frameshift mutations are the most common cause. This are often caused by additions or deletions. However other mutations can deactivate the gene like a substitutionin the binding site for mRNA transcription.

Mutations, like deletions can occur all across the genome. Since we have large amounts of non-coding DNA, these mutations usually have no effect.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

We have an orange cat, but shes a female. So they aren't alway male.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's a recessive gene on the X chromosome.

In females this means that it only expresses if both chromosome have the orange gene.

Since males only have one X chromosome it always expresses if present.

The orange males to female ratio in a population will average around 4:1.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Cool thanks for replying, love learning new things and cool to learn how unique my orange tabby is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

came here looking for fish jokes, not leaving disappointed

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Pff, it's because they have no sole.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 month ago

Why would they need soles, cats prefer to not wear shoes

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago

That’s sad. Sole is a delightful & delicate, slightly sweet flavored fish which cats absolutely love. Although my cat prefers Atlantic cod.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

Well no cat does, they don't wear shoes