Roots-of-Life - Genotypes

Genotypes

Genotypes are a string of letters indicating the traits your character expresses and carries. This directly corresponds with their phenotype.

Genotypes are written in the same order as they're listed on this page.

Loci marked with [✔] must always be included in genotypes.

Genes marked with [❖] are considered "experimental". Information about their interactions with other genes may be incomplete, and there are usually few IRL references. Please expect future changes as our understanding of these traits becomes more complete.

To understand what each trait looks like, please head over to our Design Guide pages. They are linked on each loci's header for easy access!

Disclaimer

As Roots-of-Life is a roleplaying game first and foremost and is run by hobbyists, we will note that many of our traits and genes do not perfectly match how they work IRL. Some have been simplified, modified, or are theoretical in nature. Though we strive to keep up-to-date on the latest scientific discoveries, we also prioritize ease of gameplay and stylistic freedom for our players!

Wherever we can, sources have been provided on each Design Guide page; however, please do not treat Roots-of-Life as a definitive source.

Coats

(L - Gl - Sa - R - Re - Lp - Wh - Spf)

Fur Length (L) [✔]

(LL)

Shorthaired.

(Ll)

Shorthaired, carries longhaired.

(ll)

Longhaired.

Glitter (Gl)

(GlGl)

Non-glittered.

(Glgl)

Non-glittered, carries glittered.

(glgl)

Glittered.

Satin-Rexing (Sa)

(SaSa)

Not satin-rexed.

(Sasa)

Not satin-rexed, carries satin-rexed.

Satin-rexed coat (sasa)

Satin-rexed.

Cornish Rex (R)

(RR)

Non-Cornish rexed.

(Rr)

Non-Cornish rexed, carries Cornish rexed.

(rr)

Cornish rexed.

Rex and Hairless (Re)

(ReRe)

Non-rexed.

(Rere)

Non-rexed, carries Devon rexed.

(Rehr)

Non-rexed, carries hairless.

(SReRe)

Selkirk rexed (heterozygous), carries non-rexed.

(SReSRe)

Selkirk rexed (homozygous).

(SRere)

Selkirk rexed (heterozygous), carries Devon Rex.

(SRehr)

Selkirk rexed (heterozygous), carries hairless.

(rere)

Devon rexed.

(hrre)

Fur-pointed.

(hrhr)

Hairless.

LaPerm (Lp)

(lplp)

Non-LaPerm rexed.

(Lplp)

LaPerm rexed, carries non-LaPerm rexed.

(LpLp)

LaPerm rexed.

Wirehair (Wh)

(whwh)

Non-wirehaired.

(Whwh)

Wirehaired, carries non-wirehaired.

(WhWh)

Wirehaired.

Sparse Fur (Spf)

(SpfSpf)

Not sparse-furred.

(Spfspf)

Not sparse-furred, carries sparse-furred.

(spfspf)

Sparse-furred.

Base Colors

(B - O - D - Dm)

Eumelanin (Black-based Color) (B) [✔]

(BB)

Black.

(Bb)

Black, carries chocolate.

(Bbl)

Black, carries cinnamon.

(bb)

Chocolate.

(bbl)

Chocolate, carries cinnamon.

(blbl)

Cinnamon.

Pheomelanin (Red-based Color) (O)

(XoY)

Non-red, male.

(XoXo)

Non-red, female.

(XOY)

Red, male.

(XOXO)

Red, female.

(XOXo)

Tortoiseshell.

Dilution (D)

(DD)

Non-dilute.

(Dd)

Non-dilute, carries dilute.

(dd)

Dilute.

Black becomes blue.

Chocolate becomes lilac.

Cinnamon becomes fawn.

Red becomes cream.

Dilute Modifier (Dm)

(dmdm)

Non-caramelized.

(Dmdm)

Caramelized, carries non-caramelized.

(DmDm)

Caramelized.

Blue becomes caramel.

Lilac becomes taupe.

Fawn becomes mauve.

Cream becomes apricot.

Tabby

(A - Bm - Mc - Sp - Ta)

Agouti (A) [✔]

(aa)

Solid.

(Aa)

Tabby, carries solid.

(AA)

Tabby.

(Apba)

Charcoal.

(ApbA)

Tabby, carries charcoal.

(ApbApb)

Tabby, double carries charcoal.

Bengal Modifier (Bm)

(bmbm)

Non-exotic pattern.

(Bmbm)

Exotic pattern, carries non-exotic pattern.

(BmBm)

Exotic pattern.

Mackerel becomes braided.

Classic becomes marbled.

Broken becomes broken braided.

Spotted becomes rosetted.

Ticked becomes servalline.

Mackerel (Mc) [✔]

(McMc)

Mackerel pattern.

(Mcmc)

Mackerel pattern, carries classic pattern.

(mcmc)

Classic pattern.

Spotted (Sp) [✔]

(spsp)

Non-spotted pattern.

(Spsp)

Broken pattern.

(SpSp)

Spotted pattern.

The Sp gene only affects mackerel and braided, not classic or marbled.

Ticked (Ta) [✔]

(tata)

Non-ticked pattern.

(Tata)

Ticked pattern, carries non-ticked pattern.

(TaTa)

Ticked pattern.

Ticked will mask any other tabby pattern.

Modifiers

(I - Wb - E - C)

Inhibitor (I)

(ii)

Non-silver.

(Ii)

Silver, carries non-silver.

(II)

Silver.

Silver becomes smoke if a cat is solid, and silver tabby otherwise.

Wideband (Wb)

(WbWb)

Non-wideband.

(Wbwb)

Non-wideband, carries wideband.

(Wbwb+)

Non-wideband, carries extreme wideband.

(wbwb)

Golden tabby.

(wbwb+)

Golden shaded.

(wb+wb+)

Golden shell.

(WbwbSIB)

Non-wideband, carries sunshine.

(wbSIBwbSIB)

Sunshine.

(wbwbSIB)

Golden tabby, carries sunshine.

(wb+wbSIB)

Golden shaded or golden shell, carries sunshine.

Wideband and sunshine will not affect solid cats or red/cream/apricot cats.

Golden tabby + silver becomes silver shaded.

Golden shaded + silver becomes silver shaded or shell.

Golden shell + silver becomes silver shell.

Sunshine + silver becomes bimetallic.

Extension (E)

(EE)

Non-extension.

(Ee)

Non-extension, carries amber.

(ee)

Amber.
Creates a unique phenotype, "non-agouti amber", on solid cats.

(Eer)

Non-extension, carries russet.

(erer) [❖]

Russet.

(Eec) [❖]

Non-extension, carries carnelian.

Creates a unique phenotype, "carnelian carrier", on silver and golden tabbies.

(ecec) [❖]

Carnelian.

(eer) [❖]

Amber-russet.

(eec) [❖]

Amber-carnelian.

(erec) [❖]

Russet-carnelian.

Extension will cause solid cats to appear tabby. Extension will not affect red/cream/apricot cats.

Color Restriction (C)

(CC)

Non-restricted.

(Ccs)

Non-restricted, carries colorpoint.

(Ccb)

Non-restricted, carries sepia.

(Ccm)

Non-restricted, carries mocha.

(cscs)

Colorpoint.

(cscb)

Mink.

(cbcb)

Sepia.

(cmcm) [❖]

Mocha.

(cbcm) [❖]

Burmocha.

(cscm) [❖]

Siamocha.

(Cc)

Non-restricted, carries albino.

(csc)

Colorpoint, carries albino.

(cbc)

Sepia, carries albino.

(cmc) [❖]

Mocha, carries albino.

(cc)

Albino.

White Markings

(K - W)

Karpati (K)

(kk)

Non-karpati.

(Kk)

Karpati, carries non-karpati.

(KK)

Karpati.

White (W)

(ww)

Non-white.

(wwg)

Non-white, carries gloving.

(wwsal)

Non-white, carries salmiak.

(wgwsal) [❖]

Non-white, carries gloving and salmiak.

(wsw)

Low white.

(wswg)

Low white, carries gloving.

(wswsal)

Low white, carries salmiak.

(wgwg)

Gloving.

(wsalwsal)

Salmiak.

(wsws)

High white.

(Wdw)

Dominant white, carries non-white.

(Wdws or Wdwg or Wdwsal)

Dominant white; carries white spotting, white gloving, or salmiak respectively.

(WdWd)

Dominant white.

Mutations

(Jb - M - Rt - Sf - Ac - Pd - Sn - Mk - DBE)

Some permutations are "homozygous lethal", and therefore are not included.

Bobtail (Jb)

(JbJb)

Non-bobtail.

(Jbjb)

Kinked, shortened tail.

(jbjb)

Bobtail.

Manx (M)

(mm)

Non-Manx tail.

(Mm)

Manx tail.

Ringtail (Rt)

(RtRt)

Non-ringtail.

(Rtrt)

Non-ringtail, carries ringtail.

(rtrt)

Ringtail.

Folded Ears (Sf)

(sfsf)

Non-folded ears.

(Sfsf)

Folded ears.

Curled Ears (Ac)

(acac)

Non-curled ears.

(Acac)

Curled ears, carries non-curled ears.

(AcAc)

Curled ears.

A combination of the Sf and Ac genes will create folded-curled ears.

Polydactyl (Pd)

(pdpd)

Non-polydactyly.

(Pdpd)

Extra toes are possible; carries non-polydactyly.

(PdPd)

Extra toes are likely.

Polydactyly is optional to show; the more copies of Pd, the higher chance for extra toes.

Syndactyly (Sn)

(snsn)

Non-syndactyly.

(Snsn)

Fused toes, carries non-syndactyly.

(SnSn)

Fused toes.

Munchkin (Mk)

(mkmk)

Non-munchkin.

(Mkmk)

Short legs.

Dominant Blue Eye (DBE)

(dbedbe)

Not dominant blue-eyed.

(DBEcdbe)

Celestial eyes. Considered "latent" if not shown.

Eye Colors

Most eye colors are not controlled by distinct genes in Roots-of-Life. Please see our Eye Colors page of the Design Guide for more information on our eye color rules!

Outdated Genotypes

Roots-of-Life has made many changes to our genetics system over the years, leading to some genotypes becoming impossible or outdated.

If you notice your cat's genotype is outdated and would like to update it, open a ticket so we can convert it for you! Please do not do this conversion on your own, so that staff can ensure it remains accurate.

You will only ever be required to convert your cat's genotype to our current system if you are doing a litter roll with that cat. Conversion is optional otherwise.