Colorpoint Restriction

Quick Summary

Cats with colored 'points' have genetic mutations associated with temperature-sensitive pigment production. Pigment production is reduced in warmer areas of the body, leading to darker pigmentation in the cat's cooler extremities (paws, ears, etc.)

Cat with 'Siamese' color points
Cat with Siamese colorpoints

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Phenotype: In the Siamese phenotype, pigment expression is restricted to the cat's extremities (paws, tail, ears, face). In the Burmese phenotype, pigment expression is less temperature-sensitive, resulting in more pigment distribution across the body and points that are darker than the body.

Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive (Colorpoint is recessive to Wild type); Incomplete dominance (Burmese colorpoint is incompletely dominant to Siamese colorpoint)

Alleles: C = Wild type (full color), cb = Burmese colorpoint restriction, cs = Siamese colorpoint restriction

Breeds appropriate for testing: Many breeds, particularly breeds with Asian origins

Explanation of Results:

  • Cats with C/C genotype will be full-colored and will not display colorpoint restriction. They cannot transmit colorpoint variants to any of their offspring.
  • Cats with C/cb genotype will be full-colored and are carriers of Burmese colorpoint restriction. They will transmit this Burmese colorpoint variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers of Burmese colorpoint restriction are predicted to produce 25% Burmese colorpoint kittens.
  • Cats with C/cs genotype will be full-colored and are carriers of Siamese colorpoint restriction. They will transmit this Siamese colorpoint variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers of Siamese colorpoint restriction are predicted to produce 25% Siamese colorpoint kittens.
  • Cats with cb/cb genotype will display Burmese colorpoint restriction and will transmit the Burmese colorpoint variant to all of their offspring.
  • Cats with cs/cs genotype will display Siamese colorpoint restriction and will transmit the Siamese colorpoint variant to all of their offspring.
  • Cats with cb/cs genotype will display Mink colorpoint restriction, an intermediate color between Siamese and Burmese.

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

A Burmese kitten with Burmese colorpoint restriction
Burmese kitten with Burmese colorpoint restriction

The Tyrosinase (TYR) gene, also known as the Color gene, produces an enzyme that is required for melanin production. Mutations in TYR have been associated with temperature-sensitive pigment production that result in colors known as Burmese (c.679G>T) and Siamese (c.940G>A). The wild type phenotype is full color. The Burmese phenotype results from reduced pigment production changing black pigment to sepia and orange to yellow. The Burmese points are darker than the body and the eyes are yellow-gray or yellow-green. The Siamese phenotype reduces pigment production to the points and the eyes are blue. The wild type (C) allele is dominant to Burmese (cb). Burmese is incompletely dominant to Siamese (cs); Burmese and Siamese heterozygotes (cb/cs) are intermediate in color (called 'mink').

These tests identify carriers of Burmese (also called sepia) and Siamese pointed coloration.

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 Siamese/Burmese
C/C Full color. Cat does not carry Burmese (sepia) or Siamese alleles.
C/cb Carrier of Burmese (sepia) color.
C/cs Carrier of Siamese colorpoint restriction.
cb/cb Burmese (sepia).
cs/cs Siamese.
cb/cs Mink. Intermediate color between Burmese (sepia) color and Siamese pointed phenotypes.
References

Lyons, L.A., Imes, D.L., Rah, H.C., & Grahn, R.A. (2005). Tyrosinase mutations associated with Siamese and Burmese patterns in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Animal Genetics, 36, 119-126. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01253.x

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