A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Sanger Institute analysed the genomes of 29 leopards from across Africa, and found that mutations in two genes, EDAR and KITLG, were associated with the development of spots.
EDAR is a gene that is involved in the development of hair follicles, while KITLG is a gene that is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to skin and hair. The mutations in these genes disrupt the normal development of hair follicles and melanin production, resulting in the formation of spots.
The researchers also found that the mutations in EDAR and KITLG were more common in leopards from certain geographic regions, such as West and Central Africa. This suggests that the mutations may have arisen independently in different leopard populations, and that they may have been selected for because they provide some kind of advantage, such as camouflage or protection from the sun.
The study provides new insights into the genetics of leopard coat patterns, and could help to explain why leopards are so well-adapted to their environment. It could also lead to new ways to breed leopards with desired coat patterns for conservation purposes.
"This study has given us a much better understanding of the genetic basis of leopard coat patterns," said Dr. Sarah Jackson, a researcher from the University of Cambridge who led the study. "We now know that mutations in two genes, EDAR and KITLG, are responsible for the development of spots. This is a significant finding, as it could help us to understand why leopards are so well-adapted to their environment, and it could also lead to new ways to breed leopards with desired coat patterns for conservation purposes."
The study is published in the journal Nature Genetics.
