Etiology
PKD/FADPKD is an autosomal dominant genetic disease that is passed on from one or both parents to their kittens. Since it is autosomal dominant, the affected gene which lies on a non-sex chromosome only needs to be passed on from one parent to elicit the disease. The specific gene that PKD lies on in felines has not been confirmed yet. It is referred to as the PKD1 gene. It is suggested that a single nucleotide polymorphism mutation on the gene causes PKD. A single-nucleotide polymorphism is a change/ difference in a single nucleotide from one strand of DNA to its paired chromosome or chromosomes of the species.All whom have the affected gene will have the disease. Kittens that receive both affected genes for polycystic kidney disease from both parents die before delivery with very rare cases surviving.