What’s so Special About Orange Cats? Turns Out They’re Freaks of Nature | News Channel 3-12

This is the genetic secret that makes cats orange... and it was hidden for 900 years!

Scientists have identified the genetic mutation responsible for the ginger coloration in domestic cats —a phenomenon never observed in mammals.

The exact origin of the mutation is not yet known, but it is likely very old.

By Amanda Schupak, CNN A new study may have discovered what's so special about orange cats, though it might not be what you think. Ginger cats are known among cat owners for being particularly friendly and energetic. However, for geneticists, the uniqueness of these domestic cats lies in the unusual way they acquire their color. Now, scientists say they have unraveled a long-standing mystery by identifying the specific DNA mutation responsible f…

What’s so special about orange cats? Turns out they’re freaks of nature

Researchers identified an unusual genetic mutation in orange domestic cats that has not been found in any other animal, according to a new study.

Scientists Solve Mystery of Ginger Cats; Implications for All Cells and Tissues - WhoWhatWhy

Scientists Solve Mystery of Ginger Cats; Implications for ‘All Cells and Tissues’ (Maria) The author writes, “After decades of mystery, new research has shed light on a question that has long stumped scientists and cat lovers alike — what exactly makes cats orange? Two studies published in Current Biology last week by separate teams at Stanford University and Japan’s Kyushu University at last provided some answers. Scientists have known for more…

It was known that it was a genetic issue, since they are almost all male: two new studies have discovered more