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Developmental genetics of color pattern establishment in cats

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher B. Kaelin

    (HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
    Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Kelly A. McGowan

    (HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
    Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Gregory S. Barsh

    (HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
    Stanford University School of Medicine)

Abstract

Intricate color patterns are a defining aspect of morphological diversity in the Felidae. We applied morphological and single-cell gene expression analysis to fetal skin of domestic cats to identify when, where, and how, during fetal development, felid color patterns are established. Early in development, we identify stripe-like alterations in epidermal thickness preceded by a gene expression pre-pattern. The secreted Wnt inhibitor encoded by Dickkopf 4 plays a central role in this process, and is mutated in cats with the Ticked pattern type. Our results bring molecular understanding to how the leopard got its spots, suggest that similar mechanisms underlie periodic color pattern and periodic hair follicle spacing, and identify targets for diverse pattern variation in other mammals.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher B. Kaelin & Kelly A. McGowan & Gregory S. Barsh, 2021. "Developmental genetics of color pattern establishment in cats," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25348-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25348-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Ngoc Minh Nguyen & Emmanuel Farge, 2024. "Mechanical induction in metazoan development and evolution: from earliest multi-cellular organisms to modern animal embryos," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.

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