Scientists finally decode what makes orange cats so unique [View all]

Story by Vishwam Sankaran
Scientists have finally narrowed down on a long theorised elusive genetic mutation that makes orange cats so unique, unlike any other mammal.
]

While the orange fur colour can be seen across mammals, including tigers, golden retrievers, orangutans and red-headed humans, only in domestic cats is the colouration linked to sex, appearing much more often in males.


This pattern has pointed to an unknown "orange gene" on the X chromosome in cats but identifying this gene has eluded scientists for over a century. Now, a new study published in the journal Current Biology finally unravels this gene, explaining the peculiarity of ginger cat genetics.


They found that all orange cats shared a specific deletion in the ARHGAP36 gene, while the non-orange cats did not.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/orange-cats-mutation-unique-ginger-b2752315.html