The Genetics Behind Venus, the Mysterious Two-Faced CatA cat named Venus is perhaps the most famous feline on the planet thanks to her unique markings
By Rachel Nuwer
SMITHSONIAN.COM
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
Photo: VenusmommyA cat named Venus is one of the most famous felines on the planet. The three-year-old torty has her own Facebook page and has collected more than a million views on YouTube, in addition to making appearances on the Today Show and in other news venues. The reason behind Venus’ fame? Her striking two-face markings: half black-with-yellow eye, half orange-with-blue-eye.
National Geographic investigates the possible genetic anomalies that contribute to Venus’ unique look. Cat geneticist Leslie Lyons of the University of California, Davis, told NatGeo that she’s never seen a kitty quite like Venus. “She is extremely, extremely rare,†she said.
Venus is not necessarily a chimera, or an animal whose cells contain two sets of DNA caused when two embryos fuse together during development. But Lyons said to find out for sure whether or not Venus is a chimera, she’d need to perform genetic testing.
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