The White Spotting gene (dominant white piebald) is often confused with other spotting genes in cats. There are several, although the simple dominant piebald gene is by far the most common and the one usually referred to as white spotting. It is a simple dominant and the expression is quite variable and somewhat random varying in both degree and placement and the expression is also different from heterozygous and homozygous versions. The range can be from a few white patches often on the feet and face with the rest normal colored to a van patterns which is mainly white with a few small patches of color. Especially in the homozygous versions, kittens from the same litter can have widely varying patterns. These patterns are quite well known and within the range of normal distributions, quite predictable. Cats either carry and show the white pattern or they do not and can never produce it in current or future generations if not bred to a carrier. The opposition to getting the bicolor accepted in many registries in the world have been worried or using as an excuse the fear of producing self or Siamese patterned cats with lockets, white toes, discolored paw pads, hip or flank spots and many other undesirable spots. This is, of course totally untrue. There is such a gene and it has nothing at all to do with the simple dominant white spotting of the bicolors. The gene responsible for these problems, which we can call the locket gene, is a recessive gene, somewhat similar to the birman mitting gene and often carried by many of the birmans as well as cats of other breeds. It is most often found in the traditional pointed gene pools of the Siamese, often strongest from those descended from the earlier British Siamese lines .
This gene is a nuisance and being recessive can stay hidden for many generations before finding a match, so it seems to appear from nowhere in a line of correctly colored cats.
It is often a surprise as well to breeders who have no suspicion that their cats have this gene. It has appeared in just about ALL countries and lines of Siamese and cats bred from and with the Siamese. It has at times been quite widespread as many of the world’s top winners and very well known cats have carried the gene. Since these were often very outstanding cats and were quite widely used the gene became quite widespread as well.
Of course, many of those cats showed no sign at all of having this problem and many of their descendants had no sign of the problem as well. But since it is also true that many of these outstanding cats produced many kittens and they were also of a better quality, it did not take too long before the descendants of these cats were bred to other descendants and eventually, as true of all recessives, the trait suddenly appears in a homozygous version of the gene. Hopefully, many of these cats showing the trait were quietly placed as pets and not used for breeding. But these cats had parents and littermates. These had no VISIBLE problem and were often shown and gained titles and bred. Since it is obvious that BOTH parents of these cats carried the gene, and many of the kittens that were from these parents also carried the problem, it kept on propagating generation after generation .. Only 1 in 4 statistically would be clean from such a litter, as 1 in 4 might show the trait.
But the other 2 of 4 would likely carry and pass on the problem. By careful selection and a bit of luck many of the Siamese lines had somewhat eliminated many of the genes over a long period of time. After all this effort, some Oriental breeders were now proposing for competition BICOLORS that looked like a more developed version of the genes that many Siamese breeders spent a long time eliminating from their lines (or at least quietly placing the ones showing it as pets)and got hysterical and strongly opposed the bicolors. This hysteria has kept the bicolors out of competition for many years, and some registries still haven’t accepted them often from very strong and vocal opposition from the older Siamese breeders. In the USA:place>:country-region> it kept them out of the oriental breed for about 20 years after all the other colors were accepted. Some others have recently accepted and FiFe:place> may be on the verge of accepting them if they have not done so already. Many of the bicolors have excellent type and many produce outstanding kittens of which not all are bicolors . Almost none of them produce anything looking like the lockets as the gene is much easier to see and eliminate in orientals and bicolor breeders avoid it so it does not cause problems with non-bicolor kittens.
:p>
So where do these locket gene come from? The exact origin is not too well known, but what IS known are many of the better cats that carried and spread these genes.
:p>
It may have been harder in the past to isolate many of these carriers when pedigrees were on paper and checking the ancestry of a cat for 20 generations was a slow and time consuming operation. But the newer pedigree programs combined with huge pedigree databases make such searches much easier and possible. If one knows the cats and parents of cats that have lockets and if enough different pedigrees and lines are searched, the same early ancestors suddenly appear on many of the cats that have these problems, and often in 2 or more places. Each country has their favorite carriers but even most of these favorites go back to a handful of the earlier English Siamese. Admittedly these are on a lot of pedigrees so that in itself is not definitive. Some of these were Supreme Siamese and widely used. But approaches the definitive is that while there are many cats that have these in their ancestry, all the cats carrying and displaying usually have one or more of these in their pedigrees and so far none of the cats with these problems have been totally free of this group. So while having these in itself means nothing, having the lockets without ANY of these cats would mean something. It is also often hard to get a lot of true information as many breeders deny or quietly place these cats and do not want to advertise the fact that their lines carry this problem. But rumors and knowing people do eventually identify lines that have and may still carry these genes. While there is nothing really wrong with the locket gene (it is not fatal, harmful or in any other way except for showing a problem) it is nice to be able to eventually eliminate it.
Many of the earlier or long time English breeders well know which cats and lines are at fault. Most of the old time breeders are aware of cats like Scintilla Apolo and Amberseal Electo and Zachary Apolo that carry and have spread the spotting factor. Being recessives it was not often evident in the immediate kittens from some of these often spectacular cats. But as they are in more and more pedigrees and with computer databases it becomes evident that along with excellent type some of these gave other genetic presents. Scintilla Apolo was one of the earlier widely used cats that carried it. Many of the others are more widely used and may have helped spread it but are descendants of Scintilla Apolo so he becomes a common factor on all the other pedigrees even though the descendants are often better known.
His grandfather CH CAMLEY FUDGE was also widely used and could be a possible link to the problem but he is also in every pedigree that has scintilla Apollo as is CH CRAIGIEHILLOCH CHOZARO so it makes it hard to identify the actual culprit, and could well be anything else on the pedigree as well as one or two missing places in the database. Later descendants such as Amberseal Electo or Zachary Apolo are VERY well known and widely used as well. But there are a few that had the problem and the line of descent was not through Zachary Apolo etc but did go back to Scintilla Apolo etc so he is a definite. Enough of the cats had Zachary Apolo or Amberseal Electo as the only path for the gene that they are pretty sure to have been carriers . The less widely used or lesser known descendants of these cats can also spread but it is the big well known studs with loads of descendants that are of course the easiest to identify, being on a large number of pedigrees.
:p>
It is hoped that if the real cause of this gene is understood, the Bicolors in both Siamese and Orientals will stop being the targets of the Siamese fears of the locket genes. As these cats were around many years ago, it often takes a long pedigree search to find them without a large database but if the locket gene is there, it is likely that Scintilla Apolo or one of his very well known descendants are there as well.
:p>
There was ONE well used Stud that produced lockets that did NOT have Scintilla Apollo in the pedigree. This is significant as it was a clue as to where the spotting came from,
The common ancestor in this case was Laurentide Ephree Amythest, so this is a good clue as to the inheritance path of the locket gene. Since it is rare to find her without Mercury and several other of that line it will take another chance trace to further trace the origin of the gene, as almost all the cats descended from the original Russian Blue, Ch Silvershoen Blue Peter, are inbred several times.
:p>
In Conclusion, the locket gene has little to do with the bicolors and the ‘purist’ Siamese breeders who are trying to blame the bicolors should look in their own house first.
:p>
Larry Levy
=============================================================
Some of the Pedigrees of the mentioned cats:
=============================================================
Pedigree of: CH SCINTILLA APOLLO GCCF 124701 V 15 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
Date of Birth: 12/9/1963:date> :p>
Colour & Markings: LILAC PT. SIAMESE:p>
:p>
+-- SAYAM ZAR PRAK GCCF 63016 V11 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
-CH CRAIGIEHILLOCH CHOZARO GCCF 66795 V11 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +--CH CHOCOLATE DRAGEE GCCF 63427 V11 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+--CH CAMLEY FUDGE GCCF 80789 V13 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +-- SLOPPY JOE GCCF 63482 V83 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| - PHEN KHAE MAI GCCF 67346 (BLUE PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- BINTANG SUTRA GCCF (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+---CH BRADGATE YIPPEE GCCF 103570 V 14 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE) :p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH SHUSHARD GCCF 56763 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | :p>
| | -CH BRIARRY MAC SUCH GCCF 61933 V11 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | | +-- LADY MACBETH GCCF 59104 V11 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| +-- BEAUMANOR MARIGOLD GCCF 85799 V14 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH CRAIGIEHILLOCH CHOZARO GCCF 66795 V11 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| - CRAIGIEHILLOCH CHOMEENA GCCF 79714 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- CRAIGIEHILLOCH CHOTENA GCCF 70385 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
CH SCINTILLA APOLLO GCCF 124701 V 15 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
| +-- AYREDALE JUPITER (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | :p>
| - SIEPOO SENG GCCF (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- SINKIA LU ( SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +--CH SIEPOO AZURE EMPEROR GCCF 105320 (BLUE PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | | +--CH BLUEHAYES FOXY GCCF 63801 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | - LEANDER FAIR LADY GCCF 91463 (BLUE PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- MISSELFORE MAKA ():p>
| |:p>
+--- SIEPOO LILAC LULU GCCF 116838 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE) :p>
|:p>
| +-- KYRINE LILAC KHAN GCCF 92526 V14 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | :p>
| - DONERAILE LILAC LARRY GCCF 98798 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- DODBROOK CZARINA GCCF 91976 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
+-- KENBAR LILAC LUSTRE GCCF 106685 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
| +-- LAURENTIDE MERCURY GCCF 76062 (lilac pt. siamese ):p>
| |:p>
- LAURENTIDE ADULHARIA (Lilac Pt):p>
|:p>
+-- LAURENTIDE EPHREE AMETHYST GCCF 057882 (Blue Pt):p>
:p>
:p>
:p>
:p>
:p>
Pedigree of: SGC ZACHARY APOLLO ( Choc Lynx Pt):p>
Colour & Markings: Choc Lynx Pt:p>
:p>
+--GC KILLDOWN BEAUREGARD GCCF 252283 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
-GC PENYRALLT PICASSO GCCF NS 2534 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- CYMBELINE KATISHE GCCF 24349 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+--GC AMBERSEAL ELECTO GCCF NS 15009 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +--GC SISLINKI TOPSUN GCCF 225349 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| -CH CHUNDAW KALI GCCF NS 12858 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- SIANJO TRIESTE :place>:City> GCCF 261580 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+---GC OKESHA STAR GALAXY GCCF NS 122932 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE) :p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH WINDALE DERRI GCCF 113747 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | :p>
| | -CH MARSHBROOK SASCHA GCCF 190303 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | | +-- KARRIBEE MICHELLE GCCF 147552 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| +-- OKESHA PRIMA GCCF NS 82444 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +--:p>
| | |:p>
| - PAROMA HEART O' GOLD GCCF NS 27511 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- SIANJO CARRISMA GCCF (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
SGC ZACHARY APOLLO ( Choc Lynx Pt):p>
|:p>
:p>
:p>
Pedigree of: GC PENYRALLT PICASSO GCCF NS 2534 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
Date of Birth: 3/4/1974:date> :p>
Colour & Markings: SEAL PT. SIAMESE:p>
:p>
+--CH SABUKIA SIROCCO GCCF 116024 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
-CH FAIRVALE ROSCOE GCCF 133242 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- CAMLEY CLEO GCCF 118167 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+--CH LONGACRES JEREMY GCCF OS 159019 V15 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +-- KANAATA MAI GCCF 126295 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| - LONGACRES SHERI GCCF 141508 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- BARBET HONEY GCCF 126350 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+---GC KILLDOWN BEAUREGARD GCCF 252283 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE) :p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH SCINTILLA APOLLO GCCF 124701 V 15 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | :p>
| | - ROUNDWAY OURISIA GCCF 150034 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | | +--CH ROUNDWAY JONQUIL GCCF 141285 V 15 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| +-- DONNA GCCF 192249 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH SABUKIA SIROCCO GCCF 116024 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| - HENGIST CRESSIDA GCCF 147523 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- HENGIST NOUSHKA GCCF 141423 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
GC PENYRALLT PICASSO GCCF NS 2534 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
| +-- WHITE OAKS MALAHIDE GCCF 95663 V14 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | :p>
| - ANNELIDA ASBAC GCCF 113837 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- ANNELIDA VENUS GCCF 98387 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +--CH KILLDOWN VANGUARD GCCF 144990 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | | +--CH SABUKIA SIROCCO GCCF 116024 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | - PI-DEN SHANDI GCCF 132851 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- DONERAILE ROSA:place> GCCF 116186 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
+--- CYMBELINE KATISHE GCCF 24349 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE) :p>
|:p>
| +--CH DUNCHATTAN SABU HASSAN GCCF 98052 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | :p>
| -CH WINDALE DERRI GCCF 113747 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- CRIMPLESHAM NARONG GCCF 105857 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
+--CH DUNCHATTAN AYSHAH GCCF 176812 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
| +--CH TAILONG KULI GCCF OS 115636 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
-CH DUNCHATTAN KIKI KULA GCCF 126488 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+-- DUNCHATTAN MUNA AMIRA GCCF 116149 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
:p>
:p>
and scintilla apolo is also present on the dam’s pedigree also in the 5th genereatiion as well.
:p>
Pedigree of: CH CHUNDAW KALI GCCF NS 12858 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
Colour & Markings: SEAL PT. SIAMESE:p>
:p>
+--CH SABUKIA SIROCCO GCCF 116024 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
-CH STARSHINE BANDIDO GCCF OS 135715 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- STARSHINE MISCHIEF GCCF 125996 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+--CH SISLINKI TOPAL GCCF OS 173708 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +-- OAKAY BOY GCCF 109401 V 14 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| - SUPRA FLIRT GCCF OS 154344 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- HEREWARD MITZI GCCF 133228 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+---GC SISLINKI TOPSUN GCCF 225349 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE) :p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH SCINTILLA APOLLO GCCF 124701 V 15 (LILAC PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | :p>
| | - ROUNDWAY OURISIA GCCF 150034 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | | +--CH ROUNDWAY JONQUIL GCCF 141285 V 15 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| +-- KARIBUR JARNA GCCF 191997 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| | +--CH BRU-BUR YOGI GCCF 136307 (BLUE PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| -CH REOKY SHIM-WAH GCCF 154978 (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +-- FANTAN BIANCA GCCF (CHOC. PT. SIAMESE):p>
| :p>
CH CHUNDAW KALI GCCF NS 12858 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
| +--CH SABUKIA SIROCCO GCCF 116024 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | :p>
| -CH FAIRVALE ROSCOE GCCF 133242 (SEAL PT.SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- CAMLEY CLEO GCCF 118167 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
| +--CH LONGACRES JEREMY GCCF OS 159019 V15 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | | +-- KANAATA MAI GCCF 126295 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | | |:p>
| | - LONGACRES SHERI GCCF 141508 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- BARBET HONEY GCCF 126350 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
+--- SIANJO TRIESTE:place>:City> GCCF 261580 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE) :p>
|:p>
| +--CH KUALA CARU GCCF 175083 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | :p>
| - KALOKE RUA GCCF (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| | |:p>
| | +-- THISTLEHOPE SADIYA GCCF 173697 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
+-- KALOKE ORSOVA GCCF OS 217525 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
| +--CH MARSHBROOK KWANDO:place> GCCF 183339 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
| |:p>
- CYMBELINE CHEMELI GCCF 206626 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
|:p>
+--CH DUNCHATTAN AYSHAH GCCF 176812 (SEAL PT. SIAMESE):p>
:p>
:p>
:p>
Larry Levy 3/2002