Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cloning and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
Cloning, particularly through Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), involves transferring the nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated egg cell. This process allows the genetic material from the somatic cell to dictate the traits of the resulting organism. In the case of Carbon Copy, the somatic cell used was derived from a cat, which determined her genetic makeup and the expression of specific coat colors.
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Genetic Expression and Coat Color in Cats
In cats, coat color is determined by multiple genes, including those responsible for black, white, and orange fur. The presence of black and white patches in Carbon Copy indicates that the genes for these colors were expressed, while the absence of orange patches suggests that the genetic material from the donor cell did not include the allele for orange fur. This selective expression is crucial in understanding the phenotype of cloned animals.
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Penetrance and Expressivity
X-Chromosome Inactivation
In female mammals, including cats, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly inactivated in each cell, a process known as X-chromosome inactivation. This phenomenon can lead to a mosaic pattern of coat colors, as seen in tortoiseshell cats. Since Carbon Copy was cloned from a somatic cell, the inactivation pattern of the X chromosomes in the donor cell influenced the absence of orange patches, resulting in her unique coat coloration.
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