Meow A Genetic Concert for Cats

by Kerry J Fowler, Jeanne Nevin (Editor), Gracia Louise (Illustrator)

Overview

'Meow' Second edition is a reference book for cat breeders, owners, judges and veterinarians who are curious about the genetic makeup, DNA testing, evolution and diversity, life expectancy, size, weight, head and facial shape of pedigree cat breeds. The second edition ebook was updated in early 2024

 

Peek inside, and find chapters, tables, a glossary and over 200 references describing what is scientifically known about the genes responsible for the multitude of different coat colours and patterns, including roan and ticked, hair lengths and compositions, eye colours and breed-defining features that are seen in cats such as Kurilian Bobtail, Lykoi, Munchkin and Ural Rex. Learn about strategies for managing white markings in Ragdoll cats, inbreeding in cats, genes responsible for the softness of the Bengal's coat and golden varieties, such as the counter-shaded golden British Shorthair, and the availability of silver inhibitor and O gene DNA testing

 

Be challenged by phenotype-related candidate genes for American Curl and LaPerm and genetic hypotheses for dilute modifier gene; silver phenotypes including non-expressing cryptic silver cats that produce silver kittens and solving the origin of the Ragdoll cat mystery. Understand feline genetic markers that are used for identity and parentage testing; how to interpret DNA test results for coat colour, pattern and length; what to do when DNA test results do not make sense; the pros and cons of outcrossing cat breeds; the potential effect of diet and environment on gene activity; the quality control role of cat judges and limitations of breed standards.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780648121138
Publisher:	Kerry Fowler
Publication date:	04/30/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	122
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr Kerry Fowler is an All Breeds Cat Judge who has been fortunate to have judged cats in all eight major States and Territories of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Her scientific training and judging experience have equipped her to write educational articles and give presentations about feline genetics and the skills required for cat judging. Kerry is an active member of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy of Victoria Inc. and the Australian Cat Federation Judges Guild Inc., as well as an initiator and founding Trustee of the Feline Health Research Fund. Meow: A Genetic Concert for Cats,1st edition was her first book. E: [e-mail]
Jeanne Nevin MBA is a US-based Norwegian Forest Cat exhibitor who is trained in publishing and editing. Jeanne has worked for various organizations as writer-editor, editor, publications manager, and director of editorial services.
Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison are artists who illustrate books, zines, drawings, and collages. Their books can be found in the collections of: Artspace Mackay; Bibliotheca Librorum Apud Artificem; Deakin University Library; Melbourne Museum; Melbourne University Library; Monash University Library; Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery; National Gallery of Australia; National Gallery of Victoria; National Library of Australia; RMIT University Library; State Library of New South Wales; State Library of Victoria; State Library of Queensland; Tate (UK); University of the West of England (UK).

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments 

Chapter

1 Introduction: Old and new skills used by cat breeders, Chromosomes, genes, loci and alleles, DNA and proteins, Types of mutations including examples of nuclear elements and copy number variation, Feline genetic markers, Penetrance and Gene expression, Epigenetics

Chapter 2 The use of DNA sampling to study cats: Species of cats, Pedigree cat breeds, Challenges for cat breeders, Management of inbreeding, Genetic tests for feline health, Parentage testing, Popular DNA tests for coat, Terminology for coat colour and pattern genes, Procedure for handling an unlikely DNA test result 

Chapter 3 Coat colour: White cats and cats with white, Managing white markings on Ragdoll cats, Challenges for registry bodies, Eyeshine colour, Eumelanin and Pheomelanin coat colours, Dilute density gene, Colour intensity, Mocha gene discovery, DNA testing and gene mining for silver inhibitor gene, pseudo silver and non-expressing cryptic silver cats, DNA testing for the O gene

Chapter 4 Coat pattern, length and composition: Ticked tabby gene discovery, Golden varieties, Copal and Corin gene discoveries, Wideband and countershading, Corin gene discoveries in Siberian, British Shorthair and Bengal cats, Roan patterns: Lykoi (gene discovery) and Karpati, Ural rex gene discovery, candidate gene discovery for LaPerm coat, fifth longhair gene mutation in Maine Coon cats, Glitter gene discovery in Bengal cats

Chapter 5 Feline conformation and outcross breeding: Genetic tests for conformation. Size, weight, head and facial shapes of pedigree cats, gene discoveries for breed-defining features that are seen in Kurilian Bobtail, Lykoi, Munchkin and Ural Rex cats, candidate gene discovery for American Curl ears

Chapter 6 Conclusions: From genetic makeup to appearance, Limitations of breed standards, From phenotype to genotype, Wishlist of future discoveries, Last but not least 

Glossary

References: 231 citations (2021), 266 citations (2024)

About the Author

List of Tables: Tables 1-18: Tables 4a-b, Tables 14a-b, Tables 15a-g

List of Figures: Figure 1a-d, Figure 2