Dilute

Quick Summary

Dilute is an autosomal recessive trait that causes clumping and uneven distribution of pigment granules in the hair shaft, producing dilution of all coat colors.

Four British Shorthair kittens showing full colors and diluted colors
British Shorthair kittens showing full colors and their respective dilutions. Red (left); Red diluted to cream (second from left); Black (second from right); Black diluted to gray (right)

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Phenotype: Pigment granules in the hair shaft are clumped and unevenly distributed, producing dilution of coat colors. For example, black pigment is diluted to gray and red is diluted to cream.

Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive

Alleles: D = Wild type (full color), d = Dilute

Breeds appropriate for testing: Many breeds

Explanation of Results:

  • Cats with D/D genotype will be full-colored and cannot transmit this dilute variant to their offspring.
  • Cats with D/d genotype will be full-colored and are carriers of this dilute variant. Matings between two carriers of dilute are predicted to produce 25% dilute kittens.
  • Cats with d/d genotype will display dilute coat color(s) and will transmit this dilute variant to all of their offspring. Matings with other d/d genotype cats are expected to produce all dilute offspring.

Note: Overall appearance of the cat's coat also depends on expression of and complex interactions with other genes.

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

Dilute coat color in a Chartreux cat
Chartreux, a breed fixed for dilute

A mutation in Melanophilin (MLPH) causes clumping and uneven distribution of pigment granules in the hair shaft, producing dilution of all coat colors. Dilute is caused by the deletion of a single base (c.83delT) resulting in disruption of the MLPH protein product. Dilute is an an autosomal dominant trait, which means that two copies of the dilute allele are needed to produce the phenotype. Black pigment is diluted to gray ("blue" is the term used by cat breeders), and red is diluted to cream. The wild type allele is non-dilute. Some cat breeds are fixed for the wild type, such as Egyptian Mau and Singapura, while others are fixed for dilute, such as Chartreux, Korat, and Russian Blue. Most other breeds have both wild type and dilute alleles.

Dilute coat color on a Russian Blue cat
Russian Blue, a breed fixed for dilute

This test for the dilute gene is useful to identify carriers of dilute and to determine the genetic type for young animals that may have yet to develop their adult coloration.

Sections reprinted with permission of Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D.

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 Dilute
D/D Full color. Cat does not have the dilute allele.
D/d One copy of dilute allele. Cat is a carrier of dilute.
d/d Two copies of dilute allele. Coat color is diluted.
References

Ishida, Y., David, V.A., Eizirik, E., Schäffer, A.A., Neelam, B.A., Roelke, M.E., Hannah, S.S., O'brien, S.J., Menotti-Raymond, M. (2006). A homozygous single-base deletion in MLPH causes the dilute coat color phenotype in the domestic cat. Genomics, 88, 698-705. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2006.06.006

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