I am autistic, which you probably could have just derived from the rest of this comment. Questions like these are so terrifying to me. So I always have a fun fact on hand.
“What’s new?”
“I just learned that only female cats have a calico pattern!”
Then you can talk about cats instead of your life.
color in felines is expressed on the X chromosome. humans with XX have the same kinds of patterns on their skin from combinations each parent’s DNA, but skin color isn’t expressed there so it isn’t visible
It’s not an absolute rule, but it’s true in the vast majority of cases. The coloring is on the X chromosome, and males usually have only one, but some males with have an extra X chromosome (XXY) and those can be calico. It’s rare.
You’re right, that does sound particularly like something an autistic person would say. It’s also something I’d be perfectly happy to hear and engage with.
I am autistic, which you probably could have just derived from the rest of this comment. Questions like these are so terrifying to me. So I always have a fun fact on hand.
“What’s new?”
“I just learned that only female cats have a calico pattern!”
Then you can talk about cats instead of your life.
something like 95% of calicos are female
color in felines is expressed on the X chromosome. humans with XX have the same kinds of patterns on their skin from combinations each parent’s DNA, but skin color isn’t expressed there so it isn’t visible
That’s a great idea honestly. I’d love it if more people gave replies like that.
That’s quite ingenious actually
Same with tortoiseshell coloring, and orange tabbies are usually male!
It’s not an absolute rule, but it’s true in the vast majority of cases. The coloring is on the X chromosome, and males usually have only one, but some males with have an extra X chromosome (XXY) and those can be calico. It’s rare.
You’re right, that does sound particularly like something an autistic person would say. It’s also something I’d be perfectly happy to hear and engage with.
That’s me too. And personally, I think you’re my type of person to talk to.