Mottle

Article summary

shows mottling around its mouth and nostrils. In this particular case, it is a normal hereditary trait linked to a spotted coat color-pattern and not a sign of disease. A mottle is a pattern of irregular marks, spots, streaks, blotches or patches of different shades or colours. The term commonly describes the surface of plants or the skin of animals. In plants, mottling usually consists of yellowish spots on plants, and is usually a sign of disease or malnutrition. Many plant viruses cause mottling, including Tobacco vein mottling virus and Bean pod mottle virus. "Mottling" is sometimes used to describe uneven, discolored patches on the skin of humans as a result of cutaneous ischemia (lowered blood-flow to the surfaces of the skin) or Herpes zoster infections. The medical term for mottled skin is dyschromia. Although not always the case, mottling can occur in a dying patient and commonly indicates that the end of life is near. Mottling usually occurs in the extremities (lower first) and progresses up as cardiac function declines and circulation throughout the body is poor. In animals, mottling may be a sign of disease, but may also be a hereditary trait, as seen with the champagne and leopard complex genes in horses. "Mottles" can also refer to discoloration in processed food, such as butter.…

Key claims

No claims recorded.

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
3. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

No sources recorded.