The first cloned cat, called Carbon Copy, was a calico, but she looked significantly different from her female parent. Why was this the case with this clone?
A) The cloning was done poorly and it was likely that some contaminating cat DNA became part of Carbon Copy's genome.
B) Fur color genes in cats is determined by differential acetylation patterns.
C) Cloned animals have been found to have a higher frequency of transposon activation.
D) X chromosome inactivation in the embryo is random and produces different patterns.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

X chromosome inactivation in female embryos is a random process that can produce different patterns of gene expression. This means that even though Carbon Copy was genetically identical to her female parent, the inactivation of X chromosomes in her embryo could have led to differences in her fur color and other physical traits.

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