Publication of results of polydactylie gene research in cats

The Edinburgh Study

Recently there has been published a scientific research devoted to polydactylie genetics, in cats inclusively ("Point mutations in a distant sonic hedgehog cis-regulator generate a variable regulatory output responsible for preaxial polydactyly" by Laura A. Lettice, Alison E. Hill, Paul S. Devenney, Robert E. Hill; Human Molecular Genetics, 2008, Vol. 17, No. 7 978-985). For the purposes of this study there were used, in particular, the DNA samples of polydactyl maine coons, pixie-bobs and British cats. Dr. Leslie Lyons of California University was in charge of the data collection and analysis. As a result of many-years work the scientists came to the following conclusion:

"Analysis of polydactylous cats identified three new mutations associated with preaxial polydactyly. As found for human and mouse (8), the cat mutations reside within the ZRS suggesting that the nature of preaxial polydactyly in cats is equivalent to other mammals. Since these mutations produce a limb-specific phenotype in human with no other discernible physiological defects, we submit that this type of polydactyly has no further detrimental affect on the cat's health".