Melanin inhibitor: a dominant gene in the domestic cat.

Melanin inhibitor (symbol I) is shown to be inherited as a dominant to the wild type and independent of the albino locus. The gene inhibits the formation of melanin in the less intensely pigmented regions of the coat, namely, the agouti areas between the tabby pattern and the proximal portion of the hair. The only regions of the coat to retain pigment are the distal hair of the agouti areas and the tabby pattern. There is considerable variation in the expression of I, particularly upon a nonagouti background.