Some cats have spots and others have stripes. The reason remains unclear, but there are already some ideas as to why this happens.
According to what he tells Live Science, the Dr. Greg Barshprofessor emeritus of genetics and pediatrics at the Stanford University (United States), that’s all It is a mystery why some cats, and other felines, have spots and others have stripes..
Although there is still no answer to this feline enigma, Researchers have identified two genes that affect the size and shape of spots.
According to an article published in 2012, domestic cats with one or two normal copies of a gene called Taqpep have stripes. Those who, on the other hand, have mutations in both copies of this gene They have spotted or whorled furreads Live Science.
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Likewise, in 2010, other researchers concluded that one or more genes from the spotted cat had the effect of breaking up the stripes that would normally be caused by Taqpep and turn them into stains.
The mystery continues
Despite everything, several mysteries remain, one of them is precisely what are those genes that would break the stripes. In reality, that is the great mystery through which future research would be moving.
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As you can see, this still has a lot to go. Scientists are still looking for how to resolve this issue that would help us better understand the nature and evolution of all felines.
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