It's all to do with genetics... like, in our species, nearly everyone with color-blindness is male but very occasionally a woman will be color-blind.
I think it works like this but don't quote me on it... the ginger gene is carried on the X-chromosome, and is recessive. Females have two X-chromosomes, so if only one of them has the ginger gene, it gets overruled by the other one and the gene doesn't manifest itself - or partially manifests itself, resulting in a tortoiseshell or calico cat which is why calicos are usually female. Females need two of the ginger to have it show, which is much less likely than just getting one.
Males have only one X chromosome. If they get the ginger gene on their one X chromosome, it will show, because there's no other X chromosome to overrule it.
So basically, males only need one ginger gene to have it show, females need two.
:D Genetics was the only part of biology I ever liked.
It also reminds me of an Irish drinking song: In Heaven there is no beer (No beer?!) That's why we drink it here And when we're all gone from here Our friends will be drinking all the beer.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-01-30 05:13 am (UTC)how do you know its a girl? :|
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 10:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 04:09 pm (UTC)...so the alternative is some kind of weird asexual pseudo-mating...
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 08:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 12:24 pm (UTC)But aren't ginger cats usually male?
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 04:22 pm (UTC)I think it works like this but don't quote me on it... the ginger gene is carried on the X-chromosome, and is recessive. Females have two X-chromosomes, so if only one of them has the ginger gene, it gets overruled by the other one and the gene doesn't manifest itself - or partially manifests itself, resulting in a tortoiseshell or calico cat which is why calicos are usually female. Females need two of the ginger to have it show, which is much less likely than just getting one.
Males have only one X chromosome. If they get the ginger gene on their one X chromosome, it will show, because there's no other X chromosome to overrule it.
So basically, males only need one ginger gene to have it show, females need two.
:D Genetics was the only part of biology I ever liked.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 05:49 pm (UTC)creepy asexual cat mating it is then.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 11:15 pm (UTC)It also reminds me of an Irish drinking song:
In Heaven there is no beer
(No beer?!)
That's why we drink it here
And when we're all gone from here
Our friends will be drinking all the beer.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 01:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-02 12:35 am (UTC)