What specific pigment mechanism is lacking in white tigers, independent of their metabolic genes?
Answer
A lack of pheomelanin pigment.
The distinct visual characteristic of the white tiger—its coat color—is directly attributable to a specific genetic expression. This expression results in the absence or severe reduction of pheomelanin, which is the pigment responsible for red and yellow coloration in animals. Importantly, the text emphasizes that this specific pigment deficiency mechanism operates entirely separately from the genes that govern essential metabolic processes, digestion rates, and the biological imperative to consume large, fatty carcasses, ensuring that nutritional needs remain uniform across all color morphs.
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