Albino

Quick Summary

The feline albino mutation is a rare mutation that produces a white coat with blue eyes, and is recessive to the sepia and Siamese mutations.

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Phenotype: The albino mutation produces a white coat with blue eyes.

Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive

Alleles: N = Normal/non-albino, A = Albino

Breeds appropriate for testing: Tonkinese, Siamese, blue-eyed white cats of other breeds

Explanation of Results:

  • Cats with N/N genoytpe will not be albino and cannot transmit this albino variant to their offspring.
  • Cats with A/N genotype will not be albino, but are carriers. They will transmit this albino variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% albino kittens.
  • Cats with A/A genotype will be albino, and will transmit this albino variant to all of their offspring. Matings between two A/A genotype cats are predicted to produce all albino kittens.

Turnaround Time
At least 15 business days; may be delayed beyond 15 business days if sample requires additional testing, or a new sample is requested.
Price

$44 one test per animal

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Sample Collection:

Cat DNA tests are carried out using cells collected from your cat's cheeks and gums using household cotton swabs.

The cat DNA submission form with instructions, pricing, and a place to tape the cotton swabs can be printed from your home computer after signing up for a MyVGL account and placing an order. Test kits are not mailed.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1.

Person looking at different brands of cotton swabs in a storePurchase regular household cotton swabs for cat DNA collection (the cotton swabs can be purchased at a pharmacy or drug store)

 

2.

Label indicating both ends of the two cotton swabsUse both ends of the two cotton swabs for a total of four swabs.

 

3.

Demonstration of swabbing the inner cheek of a cat with a cotton swabCollect the DNA sample by swabbing the cheek and gums of the cat.

 

4.

Cotton swabs taped to bar-coded submission form for VGLAfter swabbing the cheek and gums, tape the cotton swabs to the bar-coded submission form printed from your MyVGL account.

Additional Details

Feline albinism is a rare inherited condition characterized by a lack of pigment resulting in cats with a white coat and blue eyes.

Two mutations in the Tyrosinase (TYR) gene produce the Burmese (sepia), Siamese, and mink colorpoint coat and eye color phenotypes in cats. A rare mutation in TYR (c.936delC) causes a shortened form of the TYR protein and produces an albino phenotype of a white coat with blue eyes. The albino mutation is recessive to the Burmese (cb) and Siamese(cs) mutations following the allelic series C>cb=cs>ca.

 

Note: The albino mutation is very rare in cats. Among 9229 cats tested by the VGL, only 4 (2 Tonkinese and 2 Siamese) were positive for this mutation. Because of its rarity, Albino has been removed from the coat color panel but will continue to be offered as a stand-alone test. If the genetic basis of a blue-eyed white cat is unknown to owners, we recommend first testing for Dominant White and White Spotting, before requesting the Albino test.
Type of Sample
Cotton Swab

Species

Cat

Breed

Abyssinian African Shorthair Alpine Lynx American Bobtail American Curl American Longhair American Shorthair American Wirehair Asian Leopard Cat Asian Shorthair Australian Mist Balinese Bambino Bengal Birman Bombay Bristol British Longhair British Shorthair Burmese Burmilla California Spangled Ceylon Chantilly Chartreux Chaussie Cheetoh Colorpoint Shorthair Cornish Rex Crossbred Cymric Devon Rex Domestic Longhair Domestic Lynx Domestic Mediumhair Domestic Shorthair Don Sphynx Egyptian Mau European Burmese European Shorthair Exotic Longhair Exotic Shorthair Foldex Geoffroy Cat German Longhair German Rex Havana Brown Highland Fold Highland Lynx Highland Straight Highlander Himalayan Japanese Bobtail Javanese Jungle Curl Khao Manee Korat Kurilean Bobtail Longhair Kurilean Bobtail Shorthair La Perm Lion Lykoi Maine Coon Mandalay Manx Mohave Bob Munchkin Napoleon Native Thai Cat Nebelung Neva Masquerade Norwegian Forest Cat Ocicat Ojos Azules Oriental Longhair Oriental Shorthair Pallas's Cat Persian Persian Cross Peterbald Pixie Bob Ragamuffin Ragdoll Russian Blue Russian White Safari Savannah Cat Scottish Fold Scottish Straight Selkirk Rex Serval Siamese Siberian Cat Singapura Snowshoe Somali Sphynx Suphalak Tennessee Rex Thai Thai Burmese Tiffany Tonkinese Toybob Toyger Turkish Angora Turkish Van Unknown York Chocolate
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Type of Test
Coat Color and/or Type
Results Reported As
Test Result Albino
N/N No copies of albino allele are present.
A/N 1 copy of the albino allele is present.
A/A 2 copies of the albino allele are present. Cat is albino.
References

Imes, D. L., Geary, L. A., Grahn, R. A., & Lyons, L. A. (2006). Albinism in the domestic cat (Felis catus) is associated with a tyrosinase (TYR) mutation. Animal Genetics, 37(2), 175-178. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01409.x

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