What can cause birds to show weird color variations?
There are several different causes of partial albinism—it can be genetic, occur during development, happen as birds age, or after injury when new feathers lack pigments—and it is a useful general term as it can be impossible to determine why a bird is showing pale plumage without a genetic analysis.
The genomics of adaptation in birds - ScienceDirect
Oct 24, 2022 · A mutation’s chromosomal location (e.g., microchromosomes or sex chromosomes) or its specific nature (e.g., nucleotide substitution or structural variant) will determine how it may evolve and shape adaptive phenotypes, and we review different examples from the avian literature.
Avian Coloration Genetics: Recent Advances and Emerging …
May 8, 2021 · In this review, we highlight recent advances and emerging questions associated with the genetic underpinnings of bird color. We start by describing breakthroughs related to 2 pigment classes: carotenoids that produce red, yellow, and orange in most birds and psittacofulvins that produce similar colors in parrots.
Genomic evolution of birds - Wikipedia
The genomic evolution of birds has come under scrutiny since the advent of rapid DNA sequencing, as birds have the smallest genomes of the amniotes despite acquiring highly derived phenotypic traits.
Genetic Variation in Birds: Understanding the Diversity of Bird …
2 days ago · Together, mutations, gene flow, and genetic drift are the main causes of genetic variation in birds. By studying these processes and their effects on bird populations, we can gain a better understanding of the diversity and adaptability of these remarkable creatures.
The genomics of adaptation in birds: Current Biology - Cell Press
Oct 24, 2022 · A mutation’s chromosomal location (e.g., microchromosomes or sex chromosomes) or its specific nature (e.g., nucleotide substitution or structural variant) will determine how it may evolve and shape adaptive phenotypes, and we review different examples from the avian literature.
Colour polymorphism in birds: causes and functions
Jun 18, 2003 · We studied polymorphism in all species of birds that are presently known to show intraspecific variation in plumage colour. At least three main mechanisms have been put forward to explain the maintenance of polymorphism: apostatic, disruptive and sexual selection. All of them make partly different predictions.
Genetics of colouration in birds - ScienceDirect
Jun 1, 2013 · The present study shows that melanin-based colour phenotypes are often associated with mutations at melanogenic genes. Differences in melanin-based colouration are caused by switches of eumelanin to pheomelanin production or by changes in feather keratin structure, melanoblast migration and differentiation, as well as melanosome structure.
Mutation rate is linked to diversification in birds - PMC
Nov 11, 2010 · We show that rates of molecular evolution are positively correlated to net diversification in birds. Using a 7.6-kb dataset of protein-coding DNA, we show that the synonymous substitution rate, and therefore the mutation rate, is correlated to net diversification.
What's in a name? Nomenclature for colour aberrations in birds …
In fact, a standardised nomenclature for melanin mutations will cover almost all colour mutations in birds. For example, names for supposed carotenoid mutations, like Xanthochroism, Flavism and Erythrism, are often applied to birds that are afflicted by a melanin mutation.