#千万IP创科普# The truth about Scottish Fold cats: the genetic pain behind their cuteness

(All pictures in this issue are from the copyright gallery of Photo Network)

Have you ever been attracted by the droopy little ears and round face, and couldn't help wanting to raise a Scottish Fold cat? However, what secrets are hidden behind this cute appearance? Today, we will unveil the mystery of Scottish Fold cats.

Fold cats, whose full name is Scottish Fold cats, were first discovered in Scotland in 1961. They are named because their ears fold forward.

The cute appearance of Scottish Fold cats is caused by the semi-dominant gene Fd encoded by the autosome. Mutations in semi-dominant genes only need to occur on one allele to cause disease symptoms.

For example, if a cat carries one normal Fd gene and one mutated Fd gene, it will still show the folded ear characteristics and related health problems. This is the manifestation of a semi-dominant gene.

This gene mutation affects bone growth and the formation of articular cartilage. It is a hereditary disease that causes chondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cats. This disease causes the cat's cartilage to fail to develop normally, which in turn causes a series of health problems. Scottish Fold cats with this disease often show the following symptoms:

Stiff tail: The tail cannot swing flexibly and may even become short and thick.

Swelling of the joints of the limbs: Especially the hind limbs, which often experience swelling and pain.

Inconvenient mobility: Due to bone problems, the mobility of Scottish Fold cats will be affected, even to the point where they cannot walk.

Due to the genetic disease of Scottish Fold cats, many countries and regions have banned the breeding of Scottish Fold cats. In order to prevent more cats from suffering, we should also refuse to buy and breed Scottish Fold cats! Only in this way can we fundamentally reduce the occurrence of this genetic disease!

I hope that through this article, more people will understand the true situation of Scottish Fold cats and make more responsible choices.