Natural History Wanderings

ScienceDaily reported

Scientists reveal the key role of specific genes in feather development, providing insights into their evolution from dinosaurs

Feathers, essential for thermoregulation, flight, and communication in birds, originate from simple appendages known as proto-feathers, which were present in certain dinosaurs.By studying embryonic development of the chicken, researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have uncovered a key role of a molecular signalling pathway (the Shh pathway) in their formation. This research provides new insights into the morphogenetic mechanisms that led to feather diversification throughout evolution.

Read more  From dinosaurs to birds: the origins of feather formation | ScienceDaily