The feathers, fur, and scales that adorn different members of the animal kingdom may look quite different, but they're all made of the same basic stuff.
And, as it turns out, it only takes a relatively simple genetic tweak to produce one instead of the other., geneticists Michel Milinkovitch and Rory Cooper of the University of Geneva in Switzerland altered embryonic chickens to grow feathers instead of scales on their usually squamous feet.
Previously, Milinkovitch's lab has demonstrated that the various keratinized skin appendages have the same evolutionary origin in the ancestral reptilian hundreds of millions of years ago that later diversified into the incredible variety of animals living in the world today. For instance, Shh is an important factor in feather form and diversification, flight feather positioning in birds, and the development of hair follicles in mice.
It worked. When the chickens hatched, their normally bald feet were covered in downy juvenile feathers, similar to those covering their bodies. And, as the chickens grew, so too did the feathers.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia’s Lavrov Embraces Nazi Eugenics, Claiming German Leaders\u0027 Actions Dictated by Their ‘Nazi Genes’Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov veers into Nazi thought by absurdly claiming German leaders helping Ukraine defend itself “inherited Nazi genes.”
Read more »
Matt Healy -- Good Genes Or Good Docs?!Matt Healy's looks over the years will rock your sox off, but the question is...
Read more »
Lauren Boebert's Husband Talks Divorce: 'Been a Difficult Time the Last Few Years”Served with papers in April, Jayson Boebert says busy schedules were a culprit in the breakup: 'I work very long hours as well and I take care of our boys.'
Read more »
Low-income tenants lack options as old mobile home parks are razedMobile home parks are among the few affordable options that remain for extremely low-income people
Read more »
Future Cars Worth Waiting For: 2024–2028Our sneak peek at the most promising cars, trucks, and SUVs of the next few years.
Read more »
Low-income tenants lack options as old mobile home parks are razedMobile home parks are among the few affordable options that remain for extremely low-income people.
Read more »