Test Detail

Coat variety documented in the Kurilian Bobtail, a breed originating from the Kuril Islands. The designation copal (e^c allele) corresponds to a variant of the MC1R gene (extension locus) that produces an in-frame deletion; it is an aesthetic trait with no pathological significance. The test reports the genotype for the copal allele.

Limited to the Kurilian Bobtail and related lines within the Russian nomenclature. There are no reliable frequencies; limited data. The variant has been documented molecularly in the Kurilian Bobtail (OMIA 001199-9685).

- Particular coat tone according to the Russian breed standard\n- No systemic manifestations

The designation copal comes from the Russian breeding tradition of the Kurilian Bobtail, a breed originating from the Kuril Islands and recognized by feline associations at the end of the 20th century. Its molecular basis was characterized in 2019: Abitbol and Gache identified in the Kurilian Bobtail the e^c allele of the MC1R gene, an in-frame deletion (c.640_669del, p.(Ala214_Arg223del)), and registered it as "copal" in OMIA (OMIA:001199-9685, variant 1090). Doubts persist about the exact equivalence between the copal nomenclature and the colour designations of international standards.

- Know the Russian breed standard before selecting for the copal coat\n- The genotype of the e^c allele of MC1R can be used to complement the phenotypic assessment\n- Inform the buyer that it is an aesthetic trait with no pathological significance\n- Note that the equivalence with international colour designations is not fully settled

The copal variety is associated with the e^c allele of the MC1R gene (in-frame deletion c.640_669del) and should be assessed according to the Russian standard of the Kurilian Bobtail, which differs in some respects from the FIFe or WCF standard. It is not associated with disease. Limited data on the equivalence with international colour designations.

1. Abitbol M, Gache V (2019) Copal, a new MC1R allele in the domestic cat. Anim Genet. PMID: 31361350
2. OMIA:001199-9685 Coat colour, extension (MC1R), variante copal (e^c) en Kurilian Bobtail. https://omia.org/OMIA001199/9685/
3. Lyons LA (2015) DNA mutations of the cat: the good, the bad and the ugly. J Feline Med Surg. PMID: 25701860
4. Estándar ruso del kurilian bobtail (nomenclatura de color copal)