Tortoiseshell cats have a coat-color gene on their X chromosome. What process in eukaryotes explains why males can have solid orange or black fur, and only females can have the tortoiseshell pattern of fur?
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The gene encoding coat color is X-linked, and male cats have a single copy of the X chromosome. They can therefore express either the O or o allele, resulting in orange or black coat, respectively. Female cats, on the other hand, have two copies of the X chromosome. Thus, they can be heterozygous and express either orange or black. The tortoiseshell pattern of black and orange fur is due to X-chromosome inactivation. In black patches, the X chromosome with the dominant
O allele has been inactivated. In orange patches, the X chromosome with the recessive o allele is active so the fur is black. Since X-chromosome inactivation is random, the coat will appear mottled and have patches of both black and orange.
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