| KaDoKits Exotics present color-point genetics... WHAT'S THE POINT? I want to say a word about the use of color-points {CP} and color-point carriers {CPC} in a silver tabby Exotic breeding program. A color-point is also known as a Himalayan. These are the Siamese patterned Persians and Exotics. Color-points come in seal (black); blue; flame (red); cream; tortie; blue-cream; chocolate; lilac; chocolate tortie; lilac-cream; and any of these colors in lynx (tabby). The color-point gene is recessive and it works independently of all the other color and pattern genes. This means you need 2 copies, one from each parent, to get a color-point patterned cat. In CFA, these color-point carriers are given separate registration prefix numbers to distinguish them from cats without color-point in their pedigrees. For Persians, the prefix numbers are 3000 series. For Exotics, the prefix numbers are 7300 through 7600 series. |
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Father color-point (cscs)
| Mother solid "pure" Persian CC |
| All offspring are solid color (dominant) and carry the recessive color-point gene. Ccs |
| So, what's the point? Some breeders use color-point carrier's in their breeding programs even when producing color-points is not their breeding goal. Some shaded silver breeders have used color-points to improve the type of their silvers while still preserving the beautiful green or blue-green eye color silvers are known for. As an aside, using solids in a shaded silver program can cause problems with eye color. What ever a breeder does HAS to be for her/himself. You have to breed for your own goals. What is important for one person is not important for another person. A "newbie" has to be fully educated in the genetics of CP/CPCs, recessive genes, and has to fully understand what the trends are in breeding practices for their chosen breed, color/pattern, and registering association. In CFA, the majority of Persian and Exotic breeders who do not breed for color-points, DO NOT want ANY color-point numbered cats in their pedigrees. This is only an issue for breeders using CPC #'d cats in a non-CP breeding program IF they want to be able to sell breeder or show quality kittens to other breeders. Most other breeders want to keep their lines "pure" (free from CP lineage). Breeders working with color-points want to know for sure that a CPC cat they buy does in fact carry the color-point gene. Usually, that CPC has to be an outstanding example of the Persian breed for a CP breeder to want it. Understand that the purist sentiment runs very strong! Recessives Are Forever! Since the color-point gene is recessive, it can literally hide in a cat's DNA for many generations. Now, as long as the color-point gene is only on one side of the pedigree, and the other side is non-color-point, you will never produce a color-point kitten. But, if the pedigree ever has color-points on both sides, there will be a chance that you can get color-point kittens. DNA Saves the Day! Advances in DNA research has been a saving grace for many breeders. Along with important medical uses (like PKD), DNA testing can tell us about the color and pattern genes our cats carry! So, if it's important to you, you can get your CPC cats DNA tested to see if they actually do carry a color-point gene! It won't matter to the purists and it won't change your cat's prefix # in CFA. But at least you will know what your cat's genetics are for certain. Some people do not care if they get a random color-point kitten. But when working with the inhibitor gene, you might get some oddly colored kittens. Some people do care. It is what is important to you, there's no right or wrong answer. |
| Mother color- point carrier Ccs |
Father color-point carrier Ccs
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| Chances are with this type of breeding, you will get one kitten (or 25% chance) that does not carry the color-point gene (CC), 2 kittens (or 50% chance) that are solid color-point carriers (Ccs), and one kitten (or 25% chance) that is a color-point (cscs). |
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Father color-point carrier Ccs
| Mother solid "pure" Persian CC |
| Chances are with this type of breeding, you will get two kittens (or 50% chance) that do not carry the color-point gene (CC), and 2 kittens (or 50% chance) that are solid color-point carriers (Ccs). Probability and Statistics were never my thing, but "statistically", every time you do this type of breeding, your chance of getting a non color-point carrier (CC) goes up. |
| So What? My most favorite cat to talk about when asking this question of "So What?" is GC, RW Ashlin Zots Seattle Jack blue silver tabby CPC Exotic male CFA reg # 7634-1558366 CFA 2006-2007 Awards 9th Best Cat in Region 2 Best Exotic in Region 2 10th Best Exotic in CFA Congratulations Linda Donley! See Jack at Ashlin's Zots Incidentally, the closest color-point in Jack's pedigree is 7 generations away. Pedigree can be seen on CatPedigrees.com |
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| Mother color- point carrier Ccs |
Father color-point (cscs)
Father color-point (cscs)
| In the example on the left, all offspring are color-points (cscs). On the right, 2 kittens (or 50% chance) will be color-points (cscs), and 2 kittens (or 50 % chance) will be color-point carriers (Ccs) |
| If you breed a color-point to a "pure" Persian solid/self all the offspring will be solid/self and will carry the recessive color-point gene. |
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