Mutant Allele Frequencies in Domestic Cat Populations in Arkansas and Tennessee

We conducted surveys of mutant allele frequencies of four cat populations in Arkansas and Tennessee during 2002. Our calculations and analyses support that Southwestern cat populations were relatively more genetically similar to each other than compared to cat populations in other areas of North America. However, the cat population of Fort Smith is slightly different from the other cat populations studied in the Southwestern United States. Although there is a clear significant spatial geographic pattern for many mutant coat allele frequencies in the United States and Canada cat populations (d, l, S, and W), our results revealed that there is not a significant isolation-by-distance model affecting these cat populations. Our data also support the historical migration hypothesis because our calculated allele frequencies were genetically similar to cat populations located in ancestral areas of Europe. Different phenograms, including new European cat genetic profiles, showed that the Southwestern cat populations studied are of a clear British origin. Therefore, migration routes of early Arkansas and Tennessee settlers help explain the similarities of allele frequencies among domestic cat populations.

Population genetic analysis of cat populations from Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic: identification of different gene pools in Latin America

In this paper we identify new genetic profiles of eight Latin American cat populations. In addition, we combine data from the present study and previously published data on 70 other American and European populations to discuss (1) the points of introduction of mutant alleles for cat coat phenotypes from Europe into Latin America, (2) the heterozygosity levels at these loci in the current Latin American cat populations, (3) the level of genetic heterogeneity among Latin American cat populations, and how this compares with levels found in North American and European cat populations, and (4) how many different cat gene pools are currently present in Latin America. We also include in our purview historical records of human migrations from Europe to and within the Americas. Our analyses clearly support the view that the current genetic profiles and structuring of cat populations in Latin America can be largely explained by the historical migration patterns of humans.

Fine structure of gene frequency landscapes in domestic cat: the Old and New Worlds compared

The dependence of variance of coat gene frequencies on geographic distance was studied in stray domestic cat populations by means of analysis of variance (ANOVA) and variance ratio test (F-test) with the data set containing 333 samples. The procedure included the stepwise estimation of variances within square pieces of territory of gradually increasing size performed separately for the Old and New Worlds. It is revealed that beginning with 200-300 km-size of square side, for the most loci studied, these distance-controlled variances are significantly less in the New World, thus indicating a smoother gene frequency landscape. In both worlds, the tb and t alleles show significantly higher variances than the other mutant alleles. The mean allele frequencies in the New World are significantly higher than in the western European area, from where colonization took place for alleles that constitute a "luxury" gene group (O, d, l, W) presumably formed by human preference. The results support in general the historical/immigration hypothesis, i.e., that domestic cat colonization of the New World proceeded by rapid population expansion without a great gene frequency change (bottleneck-like effect). A modification is suggested for the model: a biased colonization sample (a founder effect) in regards to O, d, l, and W alleles.