THE ROVING PECKER PRESENTS: "Behold, A New Kitty Color (and Breed?) Has Been Discovered" By Saucy Kitty!
Meow to you, Pecker Feline Fans! As you surely know, many colors of kitties exist - from tabby to tux to void to cow to blank - so it's a rare occasion when science discovers an entirely new shade of cat. Introducing the salty licorice, or “Salmiak” cat from Finland. Salty licorice is apparently a cherished Finnish sweet, and that is what these babies’ furs look like (reminder to self: do not visit any country where black licorice is considered a top-shelf treat).
Discovered in feral colonies around 2007, these particular purrers (see what I did there?) are usually marked in a tuxedo pattern - but their individual fur strands are black at the base, then fade to white at the tip. They sometimes have small patches of color over the white markings, as well.
When scientists at the University of Helsinki and the pet DNA company, Wisdom Panel, went to look at where these precious puss’s coloring came from, they were “feline” very surprised. Examining the cats’ DNA for the typical markers that make for white fur, they were as confused as Nubs in front of an empty food bowl. The purr-plexed researchers found none of the typical markers which might have explained the white coloring on the cats.
After taking a second look at more cat genes, the scientists realized that the cause of the unusual coats was actually a mutation, one that's downstream of the DNA that affects white fur. This actual mutation was a deletion of approximately 95,000 base pairs (think adenine-thymine or guanine-cytosine, if you can hark back to Biology 101) of the DNA. This is a recessive trait, which means that both momma cat and tomma cat have to carry said mutation.
After taking a second look at more cat genes, the scientists realized that the cause of the unusual coats was actually a mutation, one that's downstream of the DNA that affects white fur. This actual mutation was a deletion of approximately 95,000 base pairs (think adenine-thymine or guanine-cytosine, if you can hark back to Biology 101) of the DNA. This is a recessive trait, which means that both momma cat and tomma cat have to carry said mutation.
“I want one!” you howl (much like Miss Lila when Bridge is making meaty treats in the kitchen), but currently, you cannot grab these particular kittens. They are not being bred yet as far as anyone knows. Further, scientists aren't sure if the unique coloring of the cats may tie in to other genetic conditions (example: a large percentage of white cats are deaf), an issue which must be studied more thoroughly.
Alas, my Peckers, the Salmiak is not yet being exported from Finland. Although knowing humans, I’m sure someone will decide to breed them and sell them for enough money to buy a lifetime supply of top-of-the-line catnip.
Photo Credits: Wisdom Panel; Stockphoto/Getty Images; Wikipedia Commons; Animal Genetics
Photo Credits: Wisdom Panel; Stockphoto/Getty Images; Wikipedia Commons; Animal Genetics
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