Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Wu P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4380220 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wu Ping P Jiang Ting-Xin TX Suksaweang Sanong S Widelitz Randall Bruce RB Chuong Cheng-Ming CM
Science (New York, N.Y.) 20040901 5689
Beak shape is a classic example of evolutionary diversification. Beak development in chicken and duck was used to examine morphological variations among avian species. There is only one proliferative zone in the frontonasal mass of chickens, but two in ducks. These growth zones are associated with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) activity. By "tinkering" with BMP4 in beak prominences, the shapes of the chicken beak can be modulated. ...[more]