Cu Locus (Curly Hair)

Other Names: Cu locus, curly coat trait, straight coat trait, wavy coat trait
Affected Genes: KRT71
Inheritance: Autosomal Incomplete Dominant
Mutation: chr27:2539211 (canFam3): C>T
Breed(s): All Breeds
View Coat Color Diagram

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Testing Summary

The Cu Locus (Curly hair) trait test reliably determines if a dog has one of the following genotypes at the Cu locus:

CuC/CuC

This dog carries two copies of CuC which results in a curly coat. This dog will pass on CuC to 100% of its offspring.

Interpretation: Curly coat
CuC/Cu

This dog carries one copy of CuC and one copy of Cu which results in a wavy or curly coat. This dog will pass on CuC to 50% of its offspring and Cu to 50% of its offspring.

Interpretation: Curly/Wavy coat (Carrier)
Cu/Cu

This dog carries two copies of Cu and has a straight coat. This dog will pass on Cu to 100% of its offspring.

Interpretation: Straight coat

Detailed Summary

The Cu Locus (Curly hair) impacts hair curl as a result of a DNA variant in the KRT71 gene which produces a form of keratin, a major structural component of hair. The CuC variant of KRT71 prevents keratin from binding together in a regular pattern which alters the structure of the hair and results in a curly coat.

Testing Tips

Genetic testing of the KRT71 gene will reliably determine whether a dog is a genetic Carrier of a straight coat. Curly coat is inherited in an autosomal incomplete dominant fashion meaning that only one copy of the CuC variant is required to produce a curly coat. However, due to the incomplete dominant expression of the CuC variant, dogs with only one copy of the CuC variant (CuC/Cu) can have a "wavy" or moderately curly coat that is in the spectrum somewhere between a curly and a straight coat. Dogs with one copy of the CuC variant (CuC/Cu) are also carriers of the variant for straight coat (Cu) and can produce dogs with a straight coat if bred to another Cu carrier or straight coat dog. Therefore, dogs with two copies of Cu will have straight hair, dogs with two copies of CuC typically have a tight curly coat and dogs with one copy of Cu and one copy of CuC typically have a looser curl or wavy coat.

There may be other causes of this condition in dogs and a normal result does not exclude a different mutation in this gene or any other gene that may result in a similar genetic disease or trait.

References

  • Cadieu E, Neff MW, Quignon P, Walsh K, Chase K, Parker HG, VonHoldt BM, Rhue A, Boyko A, Byers A, Wong A, Mosher DS, Elkahloun AG, Spady TC, Andre C, Lark KG, Cargill M, Bustamante CD, Wayne RK, Ostrander EA. Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes. Science. 2009 Oct; 326(5949):150-3. [PubMed: 19713490]