Four Independent Mutations in the Feline Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 Gene Determine the Long-Haired Phenotype in Domestic Cats

The study identified four independent mutations in the feline FGF5 gene responsible for the long-haired phenotype in domestic cats, demonstrating an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Researchers conducted genome-wide scans and sequence analyses on various cat breeds and pedigrees, involving over 380 genotyped cats, confirming that these mutations disrupted FGF5 protein activity and caused the long-haired trait. The findings provided a genetic explanation for hair length variation in domestic cats and had implications for breeding practices and the study of hair growth regulation in other species.