Research overview: genetics of taillessness and polydactyly in cats

Several striking morphological variants in domestic cats have known genetic bases, including the taillessness of the Manx cat and extra toes in polydactyl cats. This overview surveys the discovery that Manx taillessness results from a dominant variant in a T-box gene that can cause spinal defects when homozygous, and that common polydactyly arises from regulatory mutations affecting a limb-development signaling pathway. It discusses the developmental biology behind these traits, their inheritance and associated health considerations, and how studying such variants in cats contributes to understanding the genetic control of skeletal and limb development across mammals, including parallels in human congenital conditions.