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From your reporter RED FRED

Summary: Feline Genetics Extravaganza at UC Davis

Incredible progress has been made in the field of feline genetics in the past two years! And more exciting things are to come. The meeting began with a small, private session to brainstorm about potential projects to explore genetic susceptibility of cats to FIP.  To quote Dr. Pedersen, one of the world's foremost experts in feline> virology: "I was researching a feline lentivirus (FeLV) when AIDS hit and suddenly everyone was interested in my work. Now, after years of  research in coronvirus, suddenly SARS hits and everyone is interested in THAT research!"

So just when Dr. Pedersen was entertaining thoughts of retiring...something that must NEVER be allowed to happen!... huge amounts of potential funding for FIP research is being made available. The task is finding the best way to exploit that funding for the betterment of our cats! There are some promising hints of where we can start looking. So I expect some amazing improvements in our understanding of FIP in the next decade!  Meanwhile, the move of Dr. Leslie Lyon's research to UC Davis has  resulted in her acquiring an important resource: hard-working, dedicated undergraduate and graduate students looking to answer  genetic questions that remain unanswered in the cat fancy. This impressive group of young people has already given us some great tools, with more to follow. Specifically:

1) They have developed a genetic test for Siamese, Burmese, and tontines colored cats and carriers of these alleles.
2) They have developed a genetic test for chocolate/chestnut and can  determine carriers of these colors. A candidate gene for "inhibitor"  is being investigated.
3) THE Polycystic Kidney Disease GENE HAS BEEN FOUND (high level of confidence)! Unfortunately it will still be quite a while before  there is a test, as this is a large gene and sequencing will take a great deal of time.
4) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: They have 10 candidate genes to check. Three have been rules out so far. One gene/protein seems potentially very promising right now (myosin binding protein-C)

5) Two candidate genes for the Burmese Head Defect are being investigated. This study now has NIH funding which will help the project move forward. Sonic Hedgehog is a small gene and it would be VERY good news if that gene ends up being THE ONE.

6)The orange gene on the x-chromosome hasn't been found yet... but it ISN'T MC1-R, as every geneticist in the world has always assumed it was! From the National Cancer Institute, the gene for agouti vs. non- agouti (tabby vs. non-tabby) has been found. Theoretically, we now have a test for whether red/cream cats are true tabbies or not.
7)Feline lymphosarcoma research is continuing, but more affected cats are needed. Biopsy tissue needs to be obtained BEFORE these cats get chemotherapy.
8) Dr. Susan presented early results from her breed specific reproductive data collection projects. Definitely seeing differences between the breeds on birth weights, congential defects, distocia rates, etc.
9)Devon Rex/Sphynx spasticity research continues. They have narrowed the candidate genes down to a handful of potentially affected muscle proteins. The presenter had a bit of a twinkle in his eye when he said this, so I have the feeling he is much closer than he is letting on (researchers have to be careful about disclosing too much before
their papers get published!). Good news here!
10) Some breeds appear to be equally or less genetically diverse than the Havana Browns (including Birmans, Russian Blues, Siamese, Korats,  Persians, and Turkish Angoras). These breeds should be closely watched for signs that this may be affecting the health of their breed. Norwegian Forest Cats and Abyssinians are amongst the MOST diverse at the loci tested, strangely enough! They can now take a sample of DNA and differentiate a Persian from a Siamese from and Aby from a JBT (for example) based on the markers they now have. Closely
related breeds can't be done yet, though.

11) Studies are being done to determine what species of wild cat(s) were used to create the domestic cat of today. Blood samples are needed from Egyptian Maus, Siberians, recently outcrossed Havana Browns, Servals, ALCs, and Jungle Cats to assist in studies 9 and 10.

12) Parentage testing is available to the cat fancy. This is also done as a part of the other studies to ascertain that offspring really are from the parents we say they are from. We have been wrong on multiple occasions!
13) The gene for mackeral vs. classic tabby is being investigated. A candidate gene for white spotting is being investigated (the KIT locus)
14) Breed and color specific genes are being investigated in order to help the field of forensics. If a suspected criminal owns a chocolatepoint Cornish Rex and DNA found at a crime scene has the alleles for chocolate, pointed, and Cornish Rex, that can be used as evidence to prosecute the case.
15) Investigation into early-onset progressive retinal atrophy in Persian cats continues. The identification of more blind cats is needed for this study.
16) Other future projects include the gene for tailessness in Manx, the munchkin gene, and the gene for Ojos Azules. It was great seeing quite a few Fanciershealth List members at this meeting. For the rest of you... you missed a GREAT opportunity for learning more about our cats and letting the research community learn more about us. They are considering making this an annual event.

 

Source Fanciers Health list