tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post8988704052549684603..comments2024-03-02T00:44:55.128-08:00Comments on Pleiotropy: Six digit catBjørn Østmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08859177313382114917noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-36268739810970475012010-11-06T18:28:19.099-07:002010-11-06T18:28:19.099-07:00My son's cat has paws like that - like giant o...My son's cat has paws like that - like giant oven mitts. Thanks for the post - a very cooperative cat, I'd say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-83192122731519967862010-11-03T19:21:35.412-07:002010-11-03T19:21:35.412-07:00Of course, polydactyly exists in humans too (who c...Of course, polydactyly exists in humans too (who can forget the six-fingered man "who killed my father, prepare to die!"). But did you know that a genetic change can also cause a loss of digits in an otherwise perfectly looking human hand? Steen Rasmussen's son has two hands like that, and you really have to count in order to notice it. Now, of course, our non-believing friends tell us that mutations can never give rise to big adaptive changes. Why don't these mutations convince them?Chris Adamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447043823985095127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-54651772977294648582010-11-01T14:14:19.386-07:002010-11-01T14:14:19.386-07:00I'd agree calling it a "defect" may ...I'd agree calling it a "defect" may be off. Years ago my brother had a poly cat (extra digit on each paw) named Zeke and with the extra dew claw his front paws were like a baseball glove and he got quite adept at catching things 'one-pawed' among his digits and picking things up with them even if he couldn't penetrate them with his claws. Zeke was also able to cling, upside down, to the roof of a cage made of chickenwire. Unfortunately for science but fortunately for the habitability of my Mom's house, Zeke was neutered.Mike from Ottawanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-60321240985140035812010-11-01T09:24:14.200-07:002010-11-01T09:24:14.200-07:00Polydactyly runs in many breeds. I own a polydacty...Polydactyly runs in many breeds. I own a polydactyl Pixie Bob -- double dew claws (ie. "thumbs") on the front paws, and single dew claws on the rear (normally absent). By coincidence, we had him in for a checkup the other day, and there was another poly in the waiting room. I have seen and handled a kitten with *triple* dew claws on the front -- it looked like he had a small auxiliary paw, with pad and three toes, sticking out the side of his leg.Eamon Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262012749524758120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-33495853655067222562010-10-31T14:07:56.245-07:002010-10-31T14:07:56.245-07:00yep,
this is normally caused by what is called a ...yep,<br /><br />this is normally caused by what is called a homeotic transformation. Something existing becomes repeated, or somehow reitterated. Could also have something to do with broken polarity with the "anlage". Check out Drosophila and homeosis, there a tons of similar phenotypes from antenapedia, over wingless, to eyes in the antennas. Insects appeat to be way more modular in terms of development than vertebrates.<br />Cheers ArendDr. Arend Hintzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01939871283783922116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-78695065675515271702010-10-31T09:00:58.705-07:002010-10-31T09:00:58.705-07:00So, apparently this is quite common. This wiki pag...So, apparently this is quite common. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydactyl_cat" rel="nofollow">This wiki page</a> has lots of photos, and explains that the trait is genetically inherited, and that the gene responsible is called Pd (for polydactyl).<br /><br />The trait is autosomal dominant with complete penetrance (for the buffs).Bjørn Østmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08859177313382114917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4989966954446423670.post-87004342229553310162010-10-30T18:36:10.485-07:002010-10-30T18:36:10.485-07:00Here's some evidence that polydactyly is inher...Here's some evidence that polydactyly is inherited.<br /><br />http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/our_cats.htmAwesomeCloud and familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627262861489434592noreply@blogger.com