Expert: W - 1/15/2009

Question
Is the study of feline genetics in any way helpful in the study of human genetics? If so, how?

Answer
Hi Greta
What an interesting question.
First of all the study of genetics in general looks at the works of Gregor Mendel, known affectionately as the 'father of modern genetics'. Genetics itself is really all about inheritance.

Human inheritance is slow to establish and identify in terms of physical,phenotype and internal genotype. A generation is about 30 years. Any attempt at change therefore takes almost a lifetime to test and prove. When one looks at facial features the human does not mature until they reach about 20 years old. Everything is very long.

When it comes to feline inheritance, one can see change in phenotype and genotype established and visible in about 18 months to 2 years. That is the maturity cycle of a cat. So tests to prove change can be seen ,amended and retried in about ten years.

The cat is about 65 similar in genetic make up to the human, so again the majority of characteristics you are investigating in humans can be influenced very quickly in the cat. One other thing to be aware of now is that the genome project for the cat has now been completed and there is a definition of the feline genome that can be mapped to the human genome. You have to thank an Abyssinian cat called Cinnamon for that

I hope that helps

Ray