The defects of genes will cause many strange phenomena
Genes are a type of genetic material. It determines the function and form of the body. The different genes will cause the internal function to differentiate the functional structure of the organs, and some changes in appearance and shape. This is what we can observe.For cats, different varieties are different genetic performance.However, while the Creator gives a new life, occasionally some leaks will cause some genes to produce defects or mutations, just like you built a magnificent castle with a building block. After completionSome strange phenomena, so how much is this impact on cats?
1. Those cats who become popular due to genetic defects
Cats who can't close their mouths
A cat named "Lil Bub" abroad has deformation due to genetic problems and cannot close his mouth. The tongue is always exposed, and there is no teeth. There are a few toes.However, the special appearance has made it popular on the Internet, and the number of fans on its social networking site account has exceeded 120,000.Not only that, it also entered Hollywood and became a film actor.According to reports, the "little guy" looks a little strange.It has no teeth. The pink tongue is always exposed to the mouth, and its limbs do not grow in proportion. There are 22 toes.
Although the looks are special, the owner still loves the "little guy" very much.He uploaded the video and photos of the "little guy" to the Internet, and also established a fan group for social networking sites.Unexpectedly, the "little guy" became popular online and was loved by netizens.At present, the number of fan groups has exceeded 120,000.The owner of the "little guy" said that although the "little guy" body is malformed and the appearance looks strange, it is a healthy and happy cat.
In addition, a small and cute cat was found in Illinois, USA, which attracted attention. This kitten named Portess was two years old and weighed only 3 pounds, which is equivalent to a bag of candy.It is the smallest cat in the world and is now included in the Guinness World Record.Experts point out that Portburg's small body may be caused by genetic defects.Its compact is very attractive. Its owner said that the cat's diet is very regular and eat 4 meals a day.When it felt cold, he rolled his body on my arm or sleeping on my neck.It also has a habit that I will lick my jaw to kiss me every night.It is indeed a cute kitten.
2. The troubles brought by genetic defects
Born noodle paralyzed cat
Tucker is an abandoned American kitten.Because of innate health, its expression is always very embarrassed, like "facial paralysis".Today, Tucker is looking for a new owner, and his "sad" expression has buckled the hearts of people around the world. Some netizens even confessed to it on Twitter, saying "I love it."
It is reported that Tucker's former owner abandoned him because he was unable to take care of Tak.Today, this poor kitten is staying at the Animal Rescue Center in Washington, USA to find a new owner.Due to the congenital genetic defects, Tucker was born with a facial paralyzed face.In addition, its skin is very thin, it is easy to bruises, and the hair loss is quite powerful.
Secondly, we see that some cats are white, and white cats are also a variety, but white cats also have some natural genetic defects. For example, the white cats with blue eyes are mostly deaf, and the albinization genes in the white cat's body are itself an unstable factorSome studies have found that the vision of white cats may be abnormal, but this is not absolute, but there is a probability that happens.
Three, the general genetic defects of cats
We know that for cats, aspirin is poison, and cats are very sensitive to aspirin, even if there are few doses, they may die.When the pet doctor is prescribed by the animal, the pet doctor must strictly control the dose of aspirin.
So why is cat so sensitive to aspirin?For people, a protein called UGT1A6 in the liver helps digest aspirin.In 1997, Michael Cott led Shiresta to do a study, and found that there was almost no UGT1A6 protein in the cat's liver.Three years later, he found that the cat's liver did not have a UGT1A6 protein.It turned out that the genes of the cat's genome coded UGT1A6 protein have been destroyed.Although the UGT1A6 gene still has a basic skeleton, it has lost the ability to encode UGT1A6 protein, which academically calling this gene is "false gene".
This is an old problem.Shiresta analyzed 18 kinds of cats, including Indian cheetahs, tigers, etc., and found that there were similar mutations in the UGT1A6 gene on their genomes.Some cats are particularly serious.Therefore, the ancestor of the cat family must be particularly sensitive to Aspirin.
Like other detoxified proteins, UGT1A6 is evolved to help animals handle thousands of dangerous chemicals from plants.For herbivores, the UGT1A6 gene is the gift of evolution.And those animals with problems with the UGT1A6 gene have to choose food in a narrow recipe.
If animals eat a lot of meat, it is difficult for UGT1A6 to play a role and slowly fail.As long as animals can continue to be passed on, this failure gene will be inherited.The true meaning of evolution is "using it or losing it."
The UGT1A6 gene is not the only gene to facilitate failure. There is also a low -content salivary amylase in the cat body.Unlike other mammals, cats do not like sweets, because the TAS1R2 genes that feel sweet are invalid.Because of the dual effects of amylase and TAS1R2 genes, cats are farther away from plant food.
This is not all the stories. Other carnivorous animals, such as correes, cats, and weasels, love meat, but have intact UGT1A6 genes.This shows that the diet of high meat may harm the UGT1A6 gene on the animal genome, but it is not the only factor that hurts the UGT1A6 gene.There must be other factors that affect the catal animal UGT1A6 gene defects.
Researchers believe that 110 million years ago, cats have evolved from the common ancestors.However, before that, the lack of fossils of cats, this phenomenon was called "Cat Honggou", that is, 230 million years ago to 170 million years ago, the lack of cat animal fossils.Perhaps during that time, cats encountered a bottleneck in evolution.At that time, the number of cats was not large, and most of the mutations might not survive, including cats that were invalidated by the UGT1A6 gene.This may be the same as the evolutionary bottlenecks currently encountered by the Hokkaire.
We face cat's genetic defects. If it brings some diseases or physiological abnormalities to cats, then we should not abandon them, but we should take care of them more carefully or actively treat them.If it makes cats different in appearance, then we should slowly cultivate them and discover their beauty, and make this kind of distinctive play to extremes, because, maybe, it is red someday.