The first cloned cat, called Carbon Copy, was a calico, but she looked significantly different from her female parent. Why?
A) The environment, as well as genetics, affects phenotypic variation.
B) Fur color genes in cats are influenced by differential acetylation patterns.
C) Cloned animals have been found to have a higher frequency of transposon activation
D) X inactivation in the embryo is random and produces different patterns.
E) The telomeres of the parent's chromosomes were shorter than those of an embryo.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

X inactivation in the embryo is a random process, meaning that different patterns of inactivation can occur. This results in variations in fur patterns and colors. Therefore, even though Carbon Copy was a clone of her calico parent, the random nature of X inactivation during development resulted in her having a different pattern of fur color.

The First Cloned Cat, Called Carbon Copy, Was a Calico