One author I read described the genetics of foot morphology in cats as there being an "Add another toe" gene or genetic sequence. At least one version of this gene replicates a whole new copy of itself each time a tom with the gene sires kittens...
So the tom might only have +1 toes, but if he has the "replication" version and sires kittens out of a queen with +1 toes (possibly one of his descendants), the result is +1 +1 toes. If he then sires kittens out of a queen from the +1 +1 toes litter, the result is +1 +1 +1 toes. The colony they were studying got up to IIRC +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 toes (incestuously) before the tom with "+1 toes prime" finally disappeared and the number of toes stabilized.
My little guy has extra thumbs long enough that he looks like he has hands. He uses them, too. Mostly to steal the straws out of my drinks because all my drinking straws are belong to him.
If he ever learns to use them to open cat food cans I'm outa there!
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-22 06:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-22 06:34 pm (UTC)So the tom might only have +1 toes, but if he has the "replication" version and sires kittens out of a queen with +1 toes (possibly one of his descendants), the result is +1 +1 toes. If he then sires kittens out of a queen from the +1 +1 toes litter, the result is +1 +1 +1 toes. The colony they were studying got up to IIRC +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 toes (incestuously) before the tom with "+1 toes prime" finally disappeared and the number of toes stabilized.
Cats are freaky.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-24 04:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-22 06:48 pm (UTC)If he ever learns to use them to open cat food cans I'm outa there!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 01:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-02 03:06 am (UTC)