10. Domestic cats (Felis cattus) are well-known junkies of the plant, Nepeta cat
ID: 278010 • Letter: 1
Question
10. Domestic cats (Felis cattus) are well-known junkies of the plant, Nepeta cataria, or catnip. Nevertheless, cats vary in their response to the plant, and some don't respond at all. It turns out that other cat species, including leopards (Panthera pardis), respond to catnip like house cats do-some are fools for the stuff and others ignore it. This response is inherited as a relatively simple dominant Mendelian trait. In one study (this is true), researchers found that 14 of 18 leopards responded to catnip (had the dominant trait). Given these data, what is the best estimate of the frequency of wild leopards who are heterozygous for the catnip response, assuming the trait is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?Explanation / Answer
Catnip is a perennial herb that drives many houses cats wild with delight . It was first noticed as an attractant when big cats swarmed around or bruised plants growing in the wild. The response to catnip by a wild cat involves 4 actions:
1. Sniffing
2. Licking and Chewing
3. Chin and Cheek rubbing
4. Head over rolling and body rubbing
As per observations, full cyce lasts for 15 minutes. Although cats exposed to catnip mimic their behaviour when in heat, catnip does no increase sexual interest or activity .
Most cats do not respond to the plant until they are 6 to 8 weeks of age, and some may not respond until they are 3 months of age.
Susceptibility is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait about a third of domestic cats have no reaction to catnip.
Dr. N.B Todd's conclusion was clear- Although a few individual animals of almost every type reacted in some way to catnip, cats responded most often and more intensely
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