Cryptic Patterning of Avian Skin Confers a Developmental Facility for Loss of Neck Feathering
2011
How Bird Necks Get Naked
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Chunyan Mou, Denis Headon, Kira Heller
Hypothesis
How does the Naked neck mutation affect feather development in birds?
Conclusion
The Naked neck mutation increases BMP expression in neck skin, leading to the loss of neck feathers due to higher sensitivity to BMP signaling.
Supporting Evidence
- The Naked neck mutation is associated with increased BMP12 expression in neck skin.
- Retinoic acid signaling is higher in neck skin compared to body skin.
- Treating skin cultures with BMP12 caused loss of placodes on neck skin.
Takeaway
Some birds have naked necks because of a special mutation that makes their neck skin different, which stops feathers from growing there.
Methodology
The authors analyzed a mutation in chickens called Naked neck and examined gene expression profiles in neck and body skin.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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