Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 April 2009
1. A new semi-dominant gene called shaven (Sha) causes hairlessness in the mouse and it is closely linked to naked. Homozygous shaven mice never grow a first coat and adults grow a few short hairs only. Shaven heterozygotes grow a full coat which is greasy.
2. The percentage recombination between shaven and naked was found to be 0·8%. Three-point tests with naked and caracul showed that the order of the three loci is either N–Sha–Ca or N–Ca–Sha.
3. The failure of homozygous shaven mice to grow a coat is due to abnormal keratinization of the hairs in the follicles. The follicles were found to be deficient in sulphydryl groups.
4. The greasiness of the Sha+ coat is due to the presence of a sudanophilic fluid in the hair medullae.
5. The close linkage between the two genes with similar phenotypic effects is discussed.
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