| Traditionally the various coat color and effects are described in alphabetical order by Locus (location) but I find this order more helpful as it builds from the skin up. |
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| Bengal Cat Genetics |
B Locus: Primary Color
Black = B - Dominant - if a cat receives this gene from one of it's parents, the cat's primary
color is black.
Chocolate = b - Recessive to B
Cinnamon = bl - Recessive to B, b
Most Bengals have black as their primary color. The colors Chocolate and Cinnamon are
recessive colors that exist in the breed. A cat can carry Chocolate or Cinnamon and not
exhibit the color so it is important to know a breeding cats genetics. If two cats are bred that
carry for Chocolate, there is a chance of the kittens being Chocolate. If two cats are bred
that carry for Cinnamon, there is a chance of the kittens being Cinnamon. Chocolate and
Cinnamon are not recognized colors in some registration organizations and cannot be
shown there. For a cat to be chocolate or cinnamon he or she must receive the gene from
both parents. For the colors Blue, Lilac and Fawn please see the D Locus.
Chocolate, b, is recessive to black. Chocolate is not recognized in most registries of the
Bengal cat. Cinnamon, bl, is recessive to both black and chocolate. The pawpads and the tail
tips are Chocolate and Cinnamon. This is one of the main ways to identify that a cat is not a
brown/black tabby.
C Locus: Color Exhibition (The Full Color Locus)
C = Full Color - Dominant
cs = Colorpoint Siamese (the gene that causes Seal Lynx Point) - Recessive to C
cb = Colorpoint Burmese (the gene that causes Seal Sepia) - Recessive to C, incompletely
dominant to cs
ca = Blue eyed Albino - Recessive to C, cs, and cb
c = Pink eyed Albino - Recessive to C, cs, and cb
You will note that there is no gene listed for Seal Mink. Seal Mink is caused by the
combination of cs and cb genes. A Seal Mink receives Seal Lynx Point from one parent and
Seal Sepia from the other. Just like other recessives a cat can carry the genes and not
display them. Bengals carrying for "snow" are quite common and surprise white kittens can
show up from two brown marbled or brown spotted cats. Both cs and cb are an albino
variant found in the Siamese and Burmese breeds. True albino come in two forms, blue eyed
and pink eyed. An albino Bengal will not display a pattern even if it has the Agouti gene.
Albino cats often have a number of health related issues including vision problems, skin
problems, and sensitivity to light.
Black = B - Dominant - if a cat receives this gene from one of it's parents, the cat's primary
color is black.
Chocolate = b - Recessive to B
Cinnamon = bl - Recessive to B, b
Most Bengals have black as their primary color. The colors Chocolate and Cinnamon are
recessive colors that exist in the breed. A cat can carry Chocolate or Cinnamon and not
exhibit the color so it is important to know a breeding cats genetics. If two cats are bred that
carry for Chocolate, there is a chance of the kittens being Chocolate. If two cats are bred
that carry for Cinnamon, there is a chance of the kittens being Cinnamon. Chocolate and
Cinnamon are not recognized colors in some registration organizations and cannot be
shown there. For a cat to be chocolate or cinnamon he or she must receive the gene from
both parents. For the colors Blue, Lilac and Fawn please see the D Locus.
Chocolate, b, is recessive to black. Chocolate is not recognized in most registries of the
Bengal cat. Cinnamon, bl, is recessive to both black and chocolate. The pawpads and the tail
tips are Chocolate and Cinnamon. This is one of the main ways to identify that a cat is not a
brown/black tabby.
C Locus: Color Exhibition (The Full Color Locus)
C = Full Color - Dominant
cs = Colorpoint Siamese (the gene that causes Seal Lynx Point) - Recessive to C
cb = Colorpoint Burmese (the gene that causes Seal Sepia) - Recessive to C, incompletely
dominant to cs
ca = Blue eyed Albino - Recessive to C, cs, and cb
c = Pink eyed Albino - Recessive to C, cs, and cb
You will note that there is no gene listed for Seal Mink. Seal Mink is caused by the
combination of cs and cb genes. A Seal Mink receives Seal Lynx Point from one parent and
Seal Sepia from the other. Just like other recessives a cat can carry the genes and not
display them. Bengals carrying for "snow" are quite common and surprise white kittens can
show up from two brown marbled or brown spotted cats. Both cs and cb are an albino
variant found in the Siamese and Burmese breeds. True albino come in two forms, blue eyed
and pink eyed. An albino Bengal will not display a pattern even if it has the Agouti gene.
Albino cats often have a number of health related issues including vision problems, skin
problems, and sensitivity to light.
A Locus: Agouti Banding
Agouti = A - Dominant - Pattern Displays
Non Agouti = a - Recessive - Pattern Does Not Display
This is the gene that determines if the tabby pattern will display or not. All Spotted or Marbled Bengals are Agouti/A -
the pattern displays. However an all black Bengal, a Melanistic, is Non Agouti - the pattern does not display and the
primary color, Black, is seen everywhere. Non-agouti is recessive and a cat must receive the gene from both parents
for the pattern to be prevented from displaying. The gene can hide for several generations in a line.
Mc Locus: Pattern Flow
Mackerel Tabby = Mc - Vertical Flow
Classic Tabby = mc - Circular Flow
A Mackerel Tabby pattern means the flow of the cats pattern is more vertical, up and down. This is where the vertical
barring can come from. The Classic Tabby pattern means the flow of the pattern is circular on the body of the cat.
Many Bengals have the pattern flowing in a circular manner on their sides. But where does the Horizontal Flow we
see in the Asian Leopard Cat and many champion bengals come from. There are two theories:
1.) The gene combination Mcmc creates Horizontal Flow. The problem with that theory is you don't see Horizontal
Flow in any other breeds that don't use some form of leopard cat for their foundation
2.) A new theory is that there is another gene being labeled mz that comes from the Asian Leopard Cat, and it is
found on the same Locus. If this theory is true it may be the gene that makes the Horizontal Flow we strive for, and
mzmz may be what makes some of the cutting edge cats so great.
Sp Locus: Pattern Interruption
Interrupted Pattern = Sp - Dominant - The pattern is interrupted producing "spots"
Uninterupted Pattern = sp - Recessive - The pattern is continuous creating a "marbled" effect
This is where our spots and marbles come from. Little is know about the genetics that make the differences in the
spots at this time. Clearly there is a genetic piece causing round spots, arrowhead spots, two color rosettes, two
color arrowhead rosettes and paw print rosettes. It is hoped that this genetic database will help us get to the point
where we can develop provable theories behind the genetics.
T Locus: Ticking Locus
Ticked = T - Dominant - Agouti Band covers all but the base of the shaft
Not Ticked = Ta - Recessive - Agouti band pushed off the shaft of the hair
Ticking contributes to the intensity and contrast of the pattern by determining how much of the shaft is the base
color (Black, Chocolate or Cinnamon). A highly Ticked cat will only have a narrow Agouti yellow band at the base of
the shaft in the pattern. While T is dominant not receiving the gene from both parents does reduce the intensity
indicating that the dominance may be incomplete. A cat that is TaTa will not show the Agouti pattern because the
primary color is pushed off the shaft (like an Abyssinian).
Wide Band Locus: Agouti Banding Variable
Wide Band = Wb - Dominant
Not Wide Band = wb - Recessive
Wb means that the agouti banding is made wider, thus more uniform and not as "ticked" looking. It is not known if
this is a gene perse or a group of polygenes at this time. The wide band polygene affects the Agouti portions of the
shaft where the emelanin (black) is turned off making them wider, sometimes so wide that the additional affects of
the Agouti banding are pushed off the shaft giving the shaft a single color. It may be the source of the "clear coats"
we see in the Bengal Breed.
I Locus: Inhibitor (also called the Silver gene)
Color Inhibited = I - Dominant (incompletely dominant to i)
Color Not Inhibited = i - Recessive
This gene affects the display of the yellow pigment on the Agouti banding by suppressing it. Working in tandem with
the Agouti gene suppressing the production of phaeomelanin pigment (yellow/red), it has little or no effect on the
emelanin pigment (black) production. With no production of phaeomelanin the shaft is left only with whatever
emelanin production is occuring. If there isn't any, the shaft is white, if there are trace amounts the shaft is gray. The
end result is that the shaft of the hair will look gray or white while tipped with the primary color (preferably black).
This gene is dominant and only one parent needs to carry the gene for it to express. This is a very difficult gene to
work with however and the color inhibition may be incomplete. In some cases break though of the phaeomelanin
(yellow/red) occurs (Robinson's 142). This seems to only happen in silver cats that have one Inhibitor gene from one
parent, and a Non-inhibitor gene from the other parent. This suggests that perhaps while the Inhibitor gene is
dominat it may be incompletely dominant, or that there is a limit to the amount of phaeomelanin (yellow/red) it can
supress when not homozygous.The resul is that by allowing the yellow to brown pigment to display the cat has what
is called tarnish. Tarnish is very undesireable.
D Locus: Color Density
Dense Color = D - Dominant
Diluted Color = d - Recessive
This gene affects how the color cells in the shaft of the hair are dispersed. Normally the color cells are evenly
distributed along the shaft of the hair, this is Dense Color and it is what we see in most Bengals. However if the color
cells in the shaft of hair clump together they don't demonstrate the full coloring of the primary color making the shaft
look "frosted" properly called Dilute. To be dilute the cat must receive the recessive d from both parents as dd ... DD
and Dd will not show the diluted or frosted appearance. This is where the Bengal colors Blue, Lilac and Fawn come
from. Blue is actually diluted Black, Lilac is actually diluted Chocolate, and Fawn is actually diluted Cinnamon.
O Locus: Orange
O = Orange
o = Not Orange
Orange is the elimination of all eumelanistic (Black) pigment by converting the proteins into phaeomelanin (yellow). It
comes from the Torbie influence used as an early outcross in the Bengal breed. This is not to be confused with
rufousing. It is sex linked carried on the X chromosome so only females may exhibit it. The Orange gene is not
common but it has surfaced in the breed from time to time.
Mi Locus: Mica Glitter
Non-glittered = Mi - Dominant
Glittered = mi - Recessive
This gene is still partially theory. It affects just the tips of the hair shaft. In the recessive form, mi, when we look at
the hair shaft under a powerful microscope we see what appear to be small flecks of Mica, a very reflective mineral,
embedded in the tip of the hair shaft. We hope to post pictures of this effect on this page in the future. This gene did
not come from the Asian Leopard Cat but rather from a domestic cat used by Jean Mill in her early breeding program.
Another form of glitter runs the full length of the shaft, please see the Sa Locus for more information on that glitter
type.
Sa Locus: Satin Glitter
Sa = Non-Satin - Dominant
sa = Satin - Recessive
This gene is still very much in the theory phase. This gene is seen in several species. Inter species genetic
comparison is common. Many mammals are genetically similar and traits found in one species may also crop up in
another.
The satin gene is well documented in some rodent species including mice and rabbits. It is also believed to be in
Bengals coming from some of the domestic cats that were used as outcrosses in the Bengal such as Siamese,
Burmese, Ocicat and Egyptian Mau. This gene creates little bubbles of air in a sheath that surrounds the full length
of the follicle. These air bubbles catch and refract the light giving the coat a glittered effect which, while similar in
some respects to the Mica Glitter, it is also very different. This gene also makes the shaft of the hair very smooth
and gives the cats coat a very soft and silky feel. The more satin shafts in the coat the silkier and softer the fur.
L Locus: Hair Length
L = Short Hair- Dominant
l = Long Hair- Recessive
The long hair gene doesn't crop up very often in the Bengal breed, but it is out there. Bengals are intended to be
short hair but the occasional long hair kitten crops up. They are gorgeous and loving and make a great friend. They
are not currently showable and are usually only available as pets.
I will be updating more on this page as information comes to available.
Agouti = A - Dominant - Pattern Displays
Non Agouti = a - Recessive - Pattern Does Not Display
This is the gene that determines if the tabby pattern will display or not. All Spotted or Marbled Bengals are Agouti/A -
the pattern displays. However an all black Bengal, a Melanistic, is Non Agouti - the pattern does not display and the
primary color, Black, is seen everywhere. Non-agouti is recessive and a cat must receive the gene from both parents
for the pattern to be prevented from displaying. The gene can hide for several generations in a line.
Mc Locus: Pattern Flow
Mackerel Tabby = Mc - Vertical Flow
Classic Tabby = mc - Circular Flow
A Mackerel Tabby pattern means the flow of the cats pattern is more vertical, up and down. This is where the vertical
barring can come from. The Classic Tabby pattern means the flow of the pattern is circular on the body of the cat.
Many Bengals have the pattern flowing in a circular manner on their sides. But where does the Horizontal Flow we
see in the Asian Leopard Cat and many champion bengals come from. There are two theories:
1.) The gene combination Mcmc creates Horizontal Flow. The problem with that theory is you don't see Horizontal
Flow in any other breeds that don't use some form of leopard cat for their foundation
2.) A new theory is that there is another gene being labeled mz that comes from the Asian Leopard Cat, and it is
found on the same Locus. If this theory is true it may be the gene that makes the Horizontal Flow we strive for, and
mzmz may be what makes some of the cutting edge cats so great.
Sp Locus: Pattern Interruption
Interrupted Pattern = Sp - Dominant - The pattern is interrupted producing "spots"
Uninterupted Pattern = sp - Recessive - The pattern is continuous creating a "marbled" effect
This is where our spots and marbles come from. Little is know about the genetics that make the differences in the
spots at this time. Clearly there is a genetic piece causing round spots, arrowhead spots, two color rosettes, two
color arrowhead rosettes and paw print rosettes. It is hoped that this genetic database will help us get to the point
where we can develop provable theories behind the genetics.
T Locus: Ticking Locus
Ticked = T - Dominant - Agouti Band covers all but the base of the shaft
Not Ticked = Ta - Recessive - Agouti band pushed off the shaft of the hair
Ticking contributes to the intensity and contrast of the pattern by determining how much of the shaft is the base
color (Black, Chocolate or Cinnamon). A highly Ticked cat will only have a narrow Agouti yellow band at the base of
the shaft in the pattern. While T is dominant not receiving the gene from both parents does reduce the intensity
indicating that the dominance may be incomplete. A cat that is TaTa will not show the Agouti pattern because the
primary color is pushed off the shaft (like an Abyssinian).
Wide Band Locus: Agouti Banding Variable
Wide Band = Wb - Dominant
Not Wide Band = wb - Recessive
Wb means that the agouti banding is made wider, thus more uniform and not as "ticked" looking. It is not known if
this is a gene perse or a group of polygenes at this time. The wide band polygene affects the Agouti portions of the
shaft where the emelanin (black) is turned off making them wider, sometimes so wide that the additional affects of
the Agouti banding are pushed off the shaft giving the shaft a single color. It may be the source of the "clear coats"
we see in the Bengal Breed.
I Locus: Inhibitor (also called the Silver gene)
Color Inhibited = I - Dominant (incompletely dominant to i)
Color Not Inhibited = i - Recessive
This gene affects the display of the yellow pigment on the Agouti banding by suppressing it. Working in tandem with
the Agouti gene suppressing the production of phaeomelanin pigment (yellow/red), it has little or no effect on the
emelanin pigment (black) production. With no production of phaeomelanin the shaft is left only with whatever
emelanin production is occuring. If there isn't any, the shaft is white, if there are trace amounts the shaft is gray. The
end result is that the shaft of the hair will look gray or white while tipped with the primary color (preferably black).
This gene is dominant and only one parent needs to carry the gene for it to express. This is a very difficult gene to
work with however and the color inhibition may be incomplete. In some cases break though of the phaeomelanin
(yellow/red) occurs (Robinson's 142). This seems to only happen in silver cats that have one Inhibitor gene from one
parent, and a Non-inhibitor gene from the other parent. This suggests that perhaps while the Inhibitor gene is
dominat it may be incompletely dominant, or that there is a limit to the amount of phaeomelanin (yellow/red) it can
supress when not homozygous.The resul is that by allowing the yellow to brown pigment to display the cat has what
is called tarnish. Tarnish is very undesireable.
D Locus: Color Density
Dense Color = D - Dominant
Diluted Color = d - Recessive
This gene affects how the color cells in the shaft of the hair are dispersed. Normally the color cells are evenly
distributed along the shaft of the hair, this is Dense Color and it is what we see in most Bengals. However if the color
cells in the shaft of hair clump together they don't demonstrate the full coloring of the primary color making the shaft
look "frosted" properly called Dilute. To be dilute the cat must receive the recessive d from both parents as dd ... DD
and Dd will not show the diluted or frosted appearance. This is where the Bengal colors Blue, Lilac and Fawn come
from. Blue is actually diluted Black, Lilac is actually diluted Chocolate, and Fawn is actually diluted Cinnamon.
O Locus: Orange
O = Orange
o = Not Orange
Orange is the elimination of all eumelanistic (Black) pigment by converting the proteins into phaeomelanin (yellow). It
comes from the Torbie influence used as an early outcross in the Bengal breed. This is not to be confused with
rufousing. It is sex linked carried on the X chromosome so only females may exhibit it. The Orange gene is not
common but it has surfaced in the breed from time to time.
Mi Locus: Mica Glitter
Non-glittered = Mi - Dominant
Glittered = mi - Recessive
This gene is still partially theory. It affects just the tips of the hair shaft. In the recessive form, mi, when we look at
the hair shaft under a powerful microscope we see what appear to be small flecks of Mica, a very reflective mineral,
embedded in the tip of the hair shaft. We hope to post pictures of this effect on this page in the future. This gene did
not come from the Asian Leopard Cat but rather from a domestic cat used by Jean Mill in her early breeding program.
Another form of glitter runs the full length of the shaft, please see the Sa Locus for more information on that glitter
type.
Sa Locus: Satin Glitter
Sa = Non-Satin - Dominant
sa = Satin - Recessive
This gene is still very much in the theory phase. This gene is seen in several species. Inter species genetic
comparison is common. Many mammals are genetically similar and traits found in one species may also crop up in
another.
The satin gene is well documented in some rodent species including mice and rabbits. It is also believed to be in
Bengals coming from some of the domestic cats that were used as outcrosses in the Bengal such as Siamese,
Burmese, Ocicat and Egyptian Mau. This gene creates little bubbles of air in a sheath that surrounds the full length
of the follicle. These air bubbles catch and refract the light giving the coat a glittered effect which, while similar in
some respects to the Mica Glitter, it is also very different. This gene also makes the shaft of the hair very smooth
and gives the cats coat a very soft and silky feel. The more satin shafts in the coat the silkier and softer the fur.
L Locus: Hair Length
L = Short Hair- Dominant
l = Long Hair- Recessive
The long hair gene doesn't crop up very often in the Bengal breed, but it is out there. Bengals are intended to be
short hair but the occasional long hair kitten crops up. They are gorgeous and loving and make a great friend. They
are not currently showable and are usually only available as pets.
I will be updating more on this page as information comes to available.
| Here are a couple of really good links for more information on Genetics & Cat Health http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/Health.html & http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/service/cat/index.html & http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lalyons/Sites/color.htm#Research |