The Cat Patterns of Life (Inquiry Project)

The Cat Patterns of Life

Have you ever wondered why some cats have patterned coats? How cats varies in all fur patterns?

The cheetah has a coat especially covered in circle blotches, while tabby cats have very big stripes. Why do they have it? It’s because of a particular gene that these cats share that makes blotches and stripes on cats. This gene can also cause mutations to these patterns in the future stages. The cheetah might have blotch stripes and the tabby might change its pattern to blotch spots. This particular gene that causes all of this is called the Taqpep Gene.

Taqpep is usually found in the cat’s skin, where it can have a strong hold of the pattern genes. The Taqpep gene holds the design for a molecule usually found on cell membranes and used for passing messages from outside the cell to the inside. The Taqpep gene causes color pattern to change when mutating by interfering with the removal of pigment during development. The taqpep gene has many other functions. They contain Membrane-communication molecules are often connected with the immune system. The coat-color mutation was shown many times, where many scientist believe that it might have something more useful for the cats than changing their spots and stripes. One possibility is that the change influences the immune function and that the coat color variations seen in cats are a side effect of that change.

In the article, it stated that it might help out scientists in human disease. So the main question here is…. How are they related to human disease?

It mostly depends on your age. You have to have a strong immune system to avoid diseases. Cats can cause Toxoplasmosis, which is a type of infection due to parasites. Cats and dogs cause this disease by their feces (poop). This is why owners have to always clean the area from feces and make sure when you touch soil it doesn’t contain any feces. Toxoplasmosis includes illness, fevers, headaches, muscle pain, soar throats, and Swollen Lymph Nodes. Lymph Nodes are found throughout your body and it’s important to the immune system. Lymph Nodes help recognize and fight off germs, infections and unfamiliar substances.

So cats can create human diseases if you don’t clean out your area their stuff they left behind. We have also learned here that Taqpep can create different fur patterns.

Bibliography

Pappas, Stephanie. "How the Tabby Cat Got Its Stripes." Discovery News. Discovery News, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://news.discovery.com/animals/tabby-cat-stripes-gene-120921.html>.

Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Toxoplasmosis." Toxoplasmosis. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001661/>.

Discover Magazine. "One Way to Skin a Cat – Same Genes behind Blotches of Tabbies and King Cheetahs | Not Exactly Rocket Science | Discover Magazine." One Way to Skin a Cat – Same Genes behind Blotches of Tabbies and King Cheetahs. Kalmbach Publishing Co., 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/09/20/tabby-cat-blotches-king-cheetah-stripes-spots-taqpep/>.