The infographic that I have just prepared based on information from a recently published study provides the answer to the question in the title. Here it is:
Glitter coat
Another interesting aspect of this study is that the famous Bengal cat glitter coat is not due to the presence of the Asiatic leopard cat genes but the domestic cat genes which have been modified by selective breeding.
Most of the DNA changes that underlie the unique appearance of the Bengal cat breed have always been present in domestic cats.
Gregory Barsh, MD, PhD, an emeritus professor of genetics
The study found that a mutation in the gene Fgfr2 is responsible for much desired Bengal cat coat ‘glitter’ and this mutation comes from domestic cats and not Asiatic leopard cats.
It appears that selective breeding to create the Bengal modified these genes to where they was a “reduced expression of the Fgfr2 gene, which underlies glitter”.
Some more on Bengal cats and the amount of wild cat in them
The Bengal cat breed originated from the crossbreeding of domestic cats with the Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). The percentage of Asian leopard cat DNA in a Bengal cat can vary, especially across different generations. For instance, a first-generation (F1) Bengal cat will have approximately 50% Asian leopard cat DNA, as they are directly descended from one Asian leopard cat parent and one domestic cat parent.
As the generations progress (F2, F3, etc.), the percentage of Asian leopard cat DNA decreases with each subsequent crossbreeding with domestic cats. Typically, by the time the breed reaches the fourth generation (F4) or beyond, the Bengal cats are considered to be fully domestic, with the percentage of Asian leopard cat DNA being relatively low.
It’s important to note that while the initial crossbreeding introduced the wild genes, much of the Bengal cat’s distinct appearance, such as their spotted coats, is now largely attributed to the selection of specific domestic cat genes over many generations. This selective breeding has emphasized traits that resemble the wild Asian leopard cat while maintaining the temperament of a domestic cat.
