Research overview: epigenetics and gene regulation in cats

Beyond DNA sequence, epigenetic marks and regulatory elements control when and where feline genes are expressed, contributing to traits and potentially to age estimation. This overview surveys emerging work on DNA methylation and gene regulation in cats, including the development of epigenetic clocks to estimate the age of wild and domestic individuals, the regulatory variants underlying coat patterns such as the KIT-driven white spotting, and the role of X-chromosome inactivation in producing tortoiseshell mosaics. It discusses how integrating regulatory and epigenetic data with genome sequence deepens understanding of feline phenotypes, development, and aging, opening new tools for both biology and conservation monitoring.