If you have a black cat and a white cat, what color kittens will they have? - briefly
The color of kittens from a black and white cat depends on their genetic makeup. Generally, if both parents carry the gene for black fur (B), the kittens could be black, but if one or both parents have a recessive gene for white fur (W), the kittens may exhibit varying shades of gray or even be completely white.
If you have a black cat and a white cat, what color kittens will they have? - in detail
The color of kittens born from a black cat and a white cat is determined by genetics. Each parent cat contributes one allele for each trait, including coat color. There are two main genes that influence coat color in cats: the B (brown) locus and the O (orange) locus.
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B Locus: This gene controls the production of a type of melanin called eumelanin, which is responsible for black or brown fur. The dominant allele (B) produces black fur, while the recessive allele (b) produces brown fur. Black cats typically have two B alleles (BB), and white cats usually have two b alleles (bb).
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O Locus: This gene controls the production of another type of melanin called pheomelanin, which is responsible for red or cream fur. The dominant allele (O) allows the cat to express the color determined by the B locus, while the recessive allele (o) produces a dilute effect, resulting in a lighter shade of the base color.
When a black cat (BB) mates with a white cat (bb), the possible genotypes for the kittens are:
- BB (black, like the father)
- Bb (brown, intermediate between black and white)
Since the white cat has two recessive b alleles, all of its offspring will inherit at least one b allele. Therefore, the kittens can only be brown or black, not white. The exact color depends on the specific combination of alleles inherited from each parent.