Ani Sci 210 Part 3

female cat

queen

male cat

tom

baby cat

kitten

alters

spayed and castrated cats

tapetum lucidum

layer of reflective material in retina which help cats with low light vision

binocular vision

140-200 degree vision strong depth perception and spatial accuracy to track and pounce on prey.

Jacobson’s organ/vomeronasal organ

helps sense sexual odors/pheromones

flehmen response

a voluntary behavior where a cat curls back its upper lip, holds its mouth slightly open, and inhales to pull scent particles toward the Jacobson’s organ

chromosomes

located in nucleus of cells, long chains of DNA, carry information for lots of traits, number per cell varies between species, exist in pairs in somatic (body) cells

genes

individual bits of chromosomes, control one specific trait or part of a trait

46 chromosomes

diploid human number

23 chromosomes

haploid number humans

XX

female sex chromosomes

XY

male sex chromosomes

allels

different forms (of some gene(

homozygous

both alleles are the same

heterozygous

alleles are different

dominant allele

allele covers up effect of another allele

recessive allele

allele whose effect was covered up

genotypes

organism's complete set of genetic material or the specific combination of alleles (gene variants) it carries at a particular locus (location) on its chromosomes

phenotype

the set of observable and measurable characteristics of an organism

Qualitative

Mendelian, single-gene, few genes, discreet variable (this or this)

Quantitative

many genes, continuous variables

pheomelanin color pigment

red/yellow/orange

eumelanin color pigments

black

Siamese cause of darker points

dependent on temperature

dominant mutation

genetic change in one copy of a gene that is strong enough to express its trait or cause a condition

homozygous lethal

a gene mutation that causes the death of an organism only when an individual inherits two copies of the mutant allele(the homozygousstate).

polydactyly

having extra toes

Twisty (genetic)

walks on palms not on digits

mutations

happen spontaneously, fairly often but most die out, not initiated by humans, often considered a negative thing but allow for evolution

Inbreeding

breeding of closely related individuals, increases homozygosity, pros: necessary to solidify breed characteristics, neg: can increase incidence of phenotypes of deleterious recessive genes

seasonally ploy estrous

a species that experiences multiple heat (estrous) cycles during specific times of the year, rather than continuously year-round or just once annually.

anestrous period

a phase of reproductive dormancy or sexual inactivity in cyclically breeding mammals, occurring outside of the active fertile window (estrus or "heat”).During this time, the animal shows no behavioral or physiological readiness to mate.

lordosis

crouching, queen mating position

superfecundity

mama mai of cats, can breed with multiple toms and the kittens have multiple fathers, occurs up to 70% of the time in urban environments

pinking up

reddening of teetes in about 3 weeks

colostrum

nutrient-rich, antibody-packed fluid produced by the mammary glands during the first 48 hours after giving birth. Contains antibodies for the kittens to get from the mom. Called golden milk