AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -One allele produces orange fur, and the other produces black fur. A cat must receive both of these alleles, one from each parent, in order to have fur with orange and black patches. Then, during lyonization, if the X chromosome carrying a black fur allele is inactivated, the cell will produce orange fur.

Detailed explanation-2: -The calico cat displays a mixture of red-and black-based colors, depending on which of its two X chromosomes has been inactivated. The allele coding for orange hair color is dominant, while the allele for black color is recessive-although this doesn’t matter much since only one allele is expressed.

Detailed explanation-3: -Depending on which X-chromosome each cell chooses to leave active, either an orange or a black coat colour results and the cat’s fur becomes a mosaic of patches. Only cells with multiple X-chromosomes can undergo X-chromosome inactivation, which explains why almost all calico-coloured cats are female.

Detailed explanation-4: -This is because calico cats have a genetic condition called piebalding. A piebald animal has patches of white skin or fur. This is controlled by a gene that affects a skin cell’s ability to produce the pigment that causes colour.