1
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Chan YF, Lu CW, Kuo HC, Hung CM. A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Asian house martin implies potential genes associated with the feathered-foot trait. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae077. [PMID: 38607414 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The presence of feathers is a vital characteristic among birds, yet most modern birds had no feather on their feet. The discoveries of feathers on the hind limbs of basal birds and dinosaurs have sparked an interest in the evolutionary origin and genetic mechanism of feathered feet. However, the majority of studies investigating the genes associated with this trait focused on domestic populations. Understanding the genetic mechanism underpinned feathered-foot development in wild birds is still in its infancy. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of the Asian house martin (Delichon dasypus) using the long-read High Fidelity sequencing approach to initiate the search for genes associated with its feathered feet. We employed the whole-genome alignment of D. dasypus with other swallow species to identify high-SNP regions and chromosomal inversions in the D. dasypus genome. After filtering out variations unrelated to D. dasypus evolution, we found six genes related to feather development near the high-SNP regions. We also detected three feather development genes in chromosomal inversions between the Asian house martin and the barn swallow genomes. We discussed their association with the wingless/integrated (WNT), bone morphogenetic protein, and fibroblast growth factor pathways and their potential roles in feathered-foot development. Future studies are encouraged to utilize the D. dasypus genome to explore the evolutionary process of the feathered-foot trait in avian species. This endeavor will shed light on the evolutionary path of feathers in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Fu Chan
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Chih Kuo
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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2
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Nyirimana P, Kondoh D, Tomiyasu J, Watanabe M, Okada Y, Nishida Y, Goto T. Morphological variation of tail bone among two chicken breeds and their F 1 progeny. J Morphol 2024; 285:e21704. [PMID: 38702980 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Fancy breeds of Japanese indigenous chicken display extensive morphological diversity, particularly in tail feathers. Although marked differences in tail and bone traits have been reported between Tosa-jidori (wild type) and Minohikichabo (rich type) breeds, little is known about the pattern of genetic inheritance in cross experiments. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the strain and sex effects, and inheritance patterns, in the morphometric variation of pygostyle bones among Tosa-jidori, Minohikichabo, and their F1 hybrids. Five morphological traits, angle of the apex of the pygostyle, pygostyle length, margo cranialis length, tail feather number, and body weight, were evaluated at the adult stage. A significant strain difference was detected in all traits, whereas significant sex differences were observed in only three traits, but not in the angle of the apex of the pygostyle and tail feather number. In F1 hybrids, the angle of the apex of the pygostyle was significantly different to that of Tosa-jidori but not that of Minohikichabo, whereas the pygostyle length and tail number of F1 hybrids were significantly different from those of Minohikichabo but not those of Tosa-jidori. A significant heterosis effect was found in the margo cranialis length and body weight. All five traits showed nonadditive inheritance patterns but varied in each trait between partial dominance (angle of the apex of pygostyle), full dominance (pygostyle length and tail feather number), and over-dominance (margo cranialis length and body weight). Interestingly, different patterns of genetic inheritance in the F1 hybrid were observed at different locations, even within the same pygostyle bone. Using the Japanese indigenous chicken model, these results provide a substantial step toward understanding the genetic architecture of morphology in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prudence Nyirimana
- Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kondoh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Jumpei Tomiyasu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Momoka Watanabe
- Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Yume Okada
- Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Yuma Nishida
- Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Goto
- Department of Life and Food Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
- Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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3
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Maclary ET, Holt C, Concepcion GT, Sović I, Vickrey AI, Yandell M, Kronenberg Z, Shapiro MD. Assembly and annotation of 2 high-quality columbid reference genomes from sequencing of a Columba livia × Columba guinea F1 hybrid. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkad280. [PMID: 38066578 PMCID: PMC10849363 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Pigeons and doves (family Columbidae) are one of the most diverse extant avian lineages, and many species have served as key models for evolutionary genomics, developmental biology, physiology, and behavioral studies. Building genomic resources for columbids is essential to further many of these studies. Here, we present high-quality genome assemblies and annotations for 2 columbid species, Columba livia and Columba guinea. We simultaneously assembled C. livia and C. guinea genomes from long-read sequencing of a single F1 hybrid individual. The new C. livia genome assembly (Cliv_3) shows improved completeness and contiguity relative to Cliv_2.1, with an annotation incorporating long-read IsoSeq data for more accurate gene models. Intensive selective breeding of C. livia has given rise to hundreds of breeds with diverse morphological and behavioral characteristics, and Cliv_3 offers improved tools for mapping the genomic architecture of interesting traits. The C. guinea genome assembly is the first for this species and is a new resource for avian comparative genomics. Together, these assemblies and annotations provide improved resources for functional studies of columbids and avian comparative genomics in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily T Maclary
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Carson Holt
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | | | - Ivan Sović
- Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
- Digital BioLogic d.o.o, Ivanić-Grad 10310, Croatia
| | - Anna I Vickrey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | | | - Michael D Shapiro
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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4
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Maclary ET, Holt C, Concepcion GT, Sović I, Vickrey AI, Yandell M, Kronenberg Z, Shapiro MD. Assembly and annotation of two high-quality columbid reference genomes from sequencing of a Columba livia x Columba guinea F 1 hybrid. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.11.561892. [PMID: 37873124 PMCID: PMC10592783 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.11.561892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Pigeons and doves (family Columbidae) are one of the most diverse extant avian lineages, and many species have served as key models for evolutionary genomics, developmental biology, physiology, and behavioral studies. Building genomic resources for colubids is essential to further many of these studies. Here, we present high-quality genome assemblies and annotations for two columbid species, Columba livia and C. guinea. We simultaneously assembled C. livia and C. guinea genomes from long-read sequencing of a single F1 hybrid individual. The new C. livia genome assembly (Cliv_3) shows improved completeness and contiguity relative to Cliv_2.1, with an annotation incorporating long-read IsoSeq data for more accurate gene models. Intensive selective breeding of C. livia has given rise to hundreds of breeds with diverse morphological and behavioral characteristics, and Cliv_3 offers improved tools for mapping the genomic architecture of interesting traits. The C. guinea genome assembly is the first for this species and is a new resource for avian comparative genomics. Together, these assemblies and annotations provide improved resources for functional studies of columbids and avian comparative genomics in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily T. Maclary
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Carson Holt
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Ivan Sović
- Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Digital BioLogic d.o.o, Ivanić-Grad, Croatia
| | - Anna I. Vickrey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Michael D. Shapiro
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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5
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Tsai DY, Chen JJ, Su PC, Liu IM, Yeh SHH, Chen CK, Cheng HC, Chen CF, Li WH, Ng CS. Chicken HOXC8 and HOXC10 genes may play a role in the altered skull morphology associated with the Crest phenotype. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2023; 340:392-402. [PMID: 37039065 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
One of the most intriguing traits found in domestic chickens is the Crest phenotype. This trait, characterized by a tuft of elongated feathers sprouted from the head, is found in breeds such as Polish chickens and Silkie chickens. Moreover, some crested chicken breeds also exhibit a protuberance in their anterodorsal skull region. Previous studies have strived to identify the causative factors of this trait. This study aimed to elucidate the role of chicken HOXC8 and HOXC10 in the formation of the Crest phenotype. We explored the effect of ectopic expression of HOXC8 or HOXC10 on the chicken craniofacial morphology using the RCAS retrovirus transformation system. Microcomputed tomography scanning was conducted to measure the 3D structure of the cranial bone of transgenic embryos for geometric morphometric analysis. We found that the ectopic expression of HOXC8 or HOXC10 in chicken heads caused mild morphological changes in the skull compared with the GFP-transgenic control group. Geometric morphometric analysis showed that HOXC8 and HOXC10 transgenic groups expressed a mild upward shape change in the frontal region of the skull compared with the control group, which is similar to what is seen in the crested chicken breeds. In conclusion, this study supports findings in previous studies in which HOX genes play a role in the formation of the altered skull morphology related to the Crest phenotype. It also supports that mutations in HOX genes may contribute to intra- and inter-specific variation in morphological traits in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dien-Yu Tsai
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Jie Chen
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chi Su
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - I-Ming Liu
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Skye Hsin-Hsien Yeh
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Kuan Chen
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hsu-Chen Cheng
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Feng Chen
- The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsiung Li
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chen Siang Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Bioresource Conservation Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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6
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Sánchez‐Villagra MR. The evolutionary and developmental morphology of domestication in birds and mammals. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B: MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2022; 338:445-446. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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7
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Hanly JJ, Livraghi L, Heryanto C, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD, Gilbert LE, Martin A. A large deletion at the cortex locus eliminates butterfly wing patterning. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6517782. [PMID: 35099556 PMCID: PMC8982378 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As the genetic basis of natural and domesticated variation has been described in recent years, a number of hotspot genes have been repeatedly identified as the targets of selection, Heliconius butterflies display a spectacular diversity of pattern variants in the wild and the genetic basis of these patterns has been well-described. Here, we sought to identify the mechanism behind an unusual pattern variant that is instead found in captivity, the ivory mutant, in which all scales on both the wings and body become white or yellow. Using a combination of autozygosity mapping and coverage analysis from 37 captive individuals, we identify a 78-kb deletion at the cortex wing patterning locus, a gene which has been associated with wing pattern evolution in H. melpomene and 10 divergent lepidopteran species. This deletion is undetected among 458 wild Heliconius genomes samples, and its dosage explains both homozygous and heterozygous ivory phenotypes found in captivity. The deletion spans a large 5′ region of the cortex gene that includes a facultative 5′UTR exon detected in larval wing disk transcriptomes. CRISPR mutagenesis of this exon replicates the wing phenotypes from coding knock-outs of cortex, consistent with a functional role of ivory-deleted elements in establishing scale color fate. Population demographics reveal that the stock giving rise to the ivory mutant has a mixed origin from across the wild range of H. melpomene, and supports a scenario where the ivory mutation occurred after the introduction of cortex haplotypes from Ecuador. Homozygotes for the ivory deletion are inviable while heterozygotes are the targets of artificial selection, joining 40 other examples of allelic variants that provide heterozygous advantage in animal populations under artificial selection by fanciers and breeders. Finally, our results highlight the promise of autozygosity and association mapping for identifying the genetic basis of aberrant mutations in captive insect populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Hanly
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Luca Livraghi
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Christa Heryanto
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Lawrence E Gilbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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8
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Hernández F, Brown JI, Kaminski M, Harvey MG, Lavretsky P. Genomic Evidence for Rare Hybridization and Large Demographic Changes in the Evolutionary Histories of Four North American Dove Species. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092677. [PMID: 34573643 PMCID: PMC8468798 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introductions and invasions provide opportunities for interaction and hybridization between colonists and closely related native species. We investigate this phenomenon using the mitochondrial DNA COI and 81,416 base-pairs of overlapping nuclear variation to examine the evolutionary histories and signatures of hybridization among introduced feral Rock Pigeon and Eurasian Collared-Dove and native White-winged and Mourning doves in southwestern North America. First, we report all four species to be highly divergent across loci (overall pair-wise species ΦST range = 0.17-0.70) and provide little evidence for gene flow at evolutionary timescales. Despite this, evidence from multiple population genetics analyses supports the presence of six putative contemporary late-stage hybrids among the 182 sampled individuals. These putative hybrids contain various ancestry combinations, but all involve the most populous species, the Mourning Dove. Next, we use a novel method to reconstruct demographic changes through time using partial genome sequence data. We identify recent, species-specific fluctuations in population size that are likely associated with changing environments since the Miocene and suggest that these fluctuations have influenced the genetic diversity of each dove species in ways that may impact their future persistence. Finally, we discuss the importance of using multiple marker types when attempting to infer complex evolutionary histories and propose important considerations when analyzing populations that were recently established or of domestic origins.
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Hou H, Wang X, Ding W, Xiao C, Cai X, Lv W, Tu Y, Zhao W, Yao J, Yang C. Whole‐genome sequencing reveals the artificial selection and local environmental adaptability of pigeons (
Columba livia
). Evol Appl 2021; 15:603-617. [PMID: 35505885 PMCID: PMC9046921 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To meet human needs, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) with various phenotypes have been bred to provide genetic material for our research on artificial selection and local environmental adaptation. Seven pigeon breeds were resequenced and can be divided into commercial varieties (Euro‐pigeon, Shiqi, Shen King, Taishen, and Silver King), ornamental varieties (High Fliers), and local varieties (Tarim pigeon). Phylogenetic analysis based on population resequencing showed that one group contained local breeds and ornamental pigeons from China, whereas all commercial varieties were clustered together. It is revealed that the traditional Chinese ornamental pigeon is a branch of Tarim pigeon. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses revealed significant differences in the genetic diversity of the three types of pigeons. Genome sweep analysis revealed that the selected genes of commercial breeds were related to body size, reproduction, and plumage color. The genomic imprinting genes left by the ornamental pigeon breeds were mostly related to special human facial features and muscular dystrophy. The Tarim pigeon has evolved genes related to chemical ion transport, photoreceptors, oxidative stress, organ development, and olfaction in order to adapt to local environmental stress. This research provides a molecular basis for pigeon genetic resource evaluation and genetic improvement and suggests that the understanding of adaptive evolution should integrate the effects of various natural environmental characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haobin Hou
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Xiaoliang Wang
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Weixing Ding
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
| | - Changfeng Xiao
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Xia Cai
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Wenwei Lv
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Yingying Tu
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Weimin Zhao
- Shanghai Jinhuang Pigeon Company Shanghai China
| | - Junfeng Yao
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
| | - Changsuo Yang
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences Shanghai China
- National Poultry Engineer Research Center Shanghai China
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10
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Si S, Xu X, Zhuang Y, Gao X, Zhang H, Zou Z, Luo SJ. The genetics and evolution of eye color in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009770. [PMID: 34460822 PMCID: PMC8432899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The eye color of birds, generally referring to the color of the iris, results from both pigmentation and structural coloration. Avian iris colors exhibit striking interspecific and intraspecific variations that correspond to unique evolutionary and ecological histories. Here, we identified the genetic basis of pearl (white) iris color in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) to explore the largely unknown genetic mechanism underlying the evolution of avian iris coloration. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach in 92 pigeons, we mapped the pearl iris trait to a 9 kb region containing the facilitative glucose transporter gene SLC2A11B. A nonsense mutation (W49X) leading to a premature stop codon in SLC2A11B was identified as the causal variant. Transcriptome analysis suggested that SLC2A11B loss of function may downregulate the xanthophore-differentiation gene CSF1R and the key pteridine biosynthesis gene GCH1, thus resulting in the pearl iris phenotype. Coalescence and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the mutation originated approximately 5,400 years ago, coinciding with the onset of pigeon domestication, while positive selection was likely associated with artificial breeding. Within Aves, potentially impaired SLC2A11B was found in six species from six distinct lineages, four of which associated with their signature brown or blue eyes and lack of pteridine. Analysis of vertebrate SLC2A11B orthologs revealed relaxed selection in the avian clade, consistent with the scenario that during and after avian divergence from the reptilian ancestor, the SLC2A11B-involved development of dermal chromatophores likely degenerated in the presence of feather coverage. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism of avian iris color variations and the evolution of pigmentation in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Si
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhuang
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Honghai Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Zhengting Zou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
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11
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Exterior Evaluation of Selected Breeds of Pigeons: Owls and Frills. FOLIA VETERINARIA 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/fv-2021-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Owl and frill pigeons are considered one of the oldest breeds of domestic pigeons and for breeders they mean the embodiment of beauty, pride, elegance and temperament. The common feature of the whole group of owl and frill pigeons is the presence of vertically growing feather adornment—frill and a significant refinement of exterior features on the head. The main goal of this study was to record the current situation in the exhibition sector and to compare the exterior of selected breeds of owl and frill pigeons with the relevant European standard at top breeder’s exhibitions. Altogether 722 short-beaked owl and frill pigeons (Oriental frill, African owl and Turbit) raised by breeders from seventeen European countries were evaluated at five important exhibitions in Europe. The examination of the exterior showed that the most common exterior faults on the body of oriental frills were defects in colour pattern or lacing, poorly developed frill, faults in figure as well as defects in positioning and body posture. Exterior faults observed on the heads of oriental frill included: short top or forehead, defects in shape or length of the beak, as well as defects in its line. In addition to the faults in the oriental frills, there were observed imperfections in the rounding of the head and in the length of the wings and tail in the African owls. Turbits frequently exhibited deficiencies with respect to the length of the top or forehead. The exterior evaluation of owl and frill pigeons for breeders in the future shows the need for systematic elimination of deviations from physiological and physical development with culling of individuals transmitting morphological defects.
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12
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Wu D, Lao S, Fan L. De-Domestication: An Extension of Crop Evolution. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 26:560-574. [PMID: 33648850 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
De-domestication or feralization is an interesting phenomenon in crops and livestock. Previously, evidence for crop de-domestication was based mainly on studies using phenotypic and genotypic data from limited molecular markers or gene segments. Recent genomic studies in rice, barley, and wheat provide comprehensive landscapes of de-domestication on a whole-genome scale. Here, we summarize crop de-domestication processes, ecological roles of de-domesticates, mechanisms underlying crop de-domestication syndromes, and conditions potentially favoring de-domestication events. We further explain how recent de-domestication studies have expanded our understanding of the complexity of crop evolution, and highlight the genetic novelties of de-domesticates beneficial for modern crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongya Wu
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sangting Lao
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Longjiang Fan
- Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Yonyou Industrial Park, Sanya 572025, China.
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The Genetic Diversity and Structure of the European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051283. [PMID: 33947118 PMCID: PMC8145614 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The European Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur, is a widespread Palearctic species. Due to a long-term population decline, it is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Population genetics studies are important to the management of threatened species. Previous research based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome-b of European Turtle Doves sampled in Western and Southern Europe showed a lack of genetic structure of this species. The present study aimed to identify the possible genetic divergence in the European Turtle Dove. A total of 258 birds collected from Spain, Ukraine, and Morocco were examined using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome-b and D-loop sequence analysis. The high genetic diversity was evaluated in both loci analysed. Various population genetic analyses displayed genetic differences between Turtle Doves from Morocco and Ukraine, and certain Spanish samples. The results of this study will be vital for effective conservation and sustainable management of this vulnerable species. Abstract The European Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur, a long-distance migrant wintering in Africa, is a widespread Palearctic species. This species is classified as vulnerable and is undergoing a long-term demographic decline. The results of the previous study (based on mitochondrial (mtDNA) cytochrome-b (cytb) sequences of birds from Western and Southern Europe) indicated that the species was not genetically structured. We analysed the mtDNA cytb and D-loop of 258 birds collected from Morocco, Spain, and Ukraine. High genetic variability, expressed by haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity, was revealed in both cytb (Hd = 0.905 ± 0.009, π = 0.00628 ± 0.00014) and the D-loop (Hd = 0.937 ± 0.009, π = 0.01502 ± 0.00034). SAMOVA and principal coordinates analysis revealed the birds belonged to two genetically distinct groups. One group included birds collected in Spain, while birds sampled in Morocco and Ukraine formed another group. Furthermore, significant genetic differentiation was identified between Turtle Doves from Morocco and Ukraine, and certain Spanish samples. The present results indicate that specific management and conservation plans relevant for the species in various regions should be applied. However, further nuclear DNA research and new studies (particularly in Eastern Europe) are necessary for the decisive results on genetic structure of this species.
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Bortoluzzi C, Megens HJ, Bosse M, Derks MFL, Dibbits B, Laport K, Weigend S, Groenen MAM, Crooijmans RPMA. Parallel Genetic Origin of Foot Feathering in Birds. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:2465-2476. [PMID: 32344429 PMCID: PMC7475038 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the genetic basis of similar phenotypes shared between lineages is a long-lasting research interest. Even though animal evolution offers many examples of parallelism, for many phenotypes little is known about the underlying genes and mutations. We here use a combination of whole-genome sequencing, expression analyses, and comparative genomics to study the parallel genetic origin of ptilopody (Pti) in chicken. Ptilopody (or foot feathering) is a polygenic trait that can be observed in domesticated and wild avian species and is characterized by the partial or complete development of feathers on the ankle and feet. In domesticated birds, ptilopody is easily selected to fixation, though extensive variation in the type and level of feather development is often observed. By means of a genome-wide association analysis, we identified two genomic regions associated with ptilopody. At one of the loci, we identified a 17-kb deletion affecting PITX1 expression, a gene known to encode a transcription regulator of hindlimb identity and development. Similarly to pigeon, at the second loci, we observed ectopic expression of TBX5, a gene involved in forelimb identity and a key determinant of foot feather development. We also observed that the trait evolved only once as foot-feathered birds share the same haplotype upstream TBX5. Our findings indicate that in chicken and pigeon ptilopody is determined by the same set of genes that affect similar molecular pathways. Our study confirms that ptilopody has evolved through parallel evolution in chicken and pigeon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bortoluzzi
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik-Jan Megens
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mirte Bosse
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn F L Derks
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Dibbits
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kimberly Laport
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen Weigend
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Neustadt, Germany
| | - Martien A M Groenen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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15
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Domestication and feralization influence the distribution and phenotypes of escaped ornamental fish. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02415-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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16
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Pacheco G, van Grouw H, Shapiro MD, Gilbert MTP, Vieira FG. Darwin's Fancy Revised: An Updated Understanding of the Genomic Constitution of Pigeon Breeds. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:136-150. [PMID: 32053199 PMCID: PMC7144551 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Through its long history of artificial selection, the rock pigeon (Columba livia Gmelin 1789) was forged into a large number of domestic breeds. The incredible amount of phenotypic diversity exhibited in these breeds has long held the fascination of scholars, particularly those interested in biological inheritance and evolution. However, exploiting them as a model system is challenging, as unlike with many other domestic species, few reliable records exist about the origins of, and relationships between, each of the breeds. Therefore, in order to broaden our understanding of the complex evolutionary relationships among pigeon breeds, we generated genome-wide data by performing the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method on close to 200 domestic individuals representing over 60 breeds. We analyzed these GBS data alongside previously published whole-genome sequencing data, and this combined analysis allowed us to conduct the most extensive phylogenetic analysis of the group, including two feral pigeons and one outgroup. We improve previous phylogenies, find considerable population structure across the different breeds, and identify unreported interbreed admixture events. Despite the reduced number of loci relative to whole-genome sequencing, we demonstrate that GBS data provide sufficient analytical power to investigate intertwined evolutionary relationships, such as those that are characteristic of animal domestic breeds. Thus, we argue that future studies should consider sequencing methods akin to the GBS approach as an optimal cost-effective approach for addressing complex phylogenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Pacheco
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hein van Grouw
- Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marcus Thomas P Gilbert
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Filipe Garrett Vieira
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Yang J, Gu J, Hu Y, Wang N, Gao J, Wang P. Molecular cloning and characterization of HSP60 gene in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) and differential expression patterns under temperature stress. Cell Stress Chaperones 2021; 26:115-127. [PMID: 32880058 PMCID: PMC7736444 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-020-01160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is a well-recognized multifunctional protein, playing a substantial role in protecting organisms from environmental stress. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) is a promising model organism, with important economic and ecological value, and its health is susceptible to temperature stress. To explore the molecular characteristics, tissue expression profile, and response to temperature stress for HSP60 of Columba livia (ClHSP60), we firstly cloned and characterized the complete cDNA sequence and investigated its expression profile under optimal conditions and acute temperature stress. The cDNA of ClHSP60 contained 2257 nucleotides, consisting of 12 exons with length ranging from 65 to 590 bp. The open reading frame (ORF) encoded 573 amino acids with calculated molecular weight of 60.97 kDa that contained a number of structurally prominent domains or motifs. Under optimal temperature conditions, levels of ClHSP60 expression differed between all the tested tissues (the highest was noted in liver and the lowest in pectoralis major muscle). Under acute temperature stress, five patterns of change were detected in the tested tissues, suggesting that different tissues in domestic pigeons differentially responded to various temperature stress conditions. Upregulation of ClHSP60 expression was highest in the lung and pectoralis major muscle, reflecting the crucial role of these two tissues in temperature regulation. However, the crop, cerebrum, and heart showed little change or decreased ClHSP60 expression. The results indicate that ClHSP60 may be sensitive to and play pivotal roles in responding to acute temperature stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianke Yang
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
- Research laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
| | - Juan Gu
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
- School of pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
| | - Yuqing Hu
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
| | - Nan Wang
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
| | - Jiguang Gao
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
- Research laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
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18
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Giunchi D, Mucci N, Bigi D, Mengoni C, Baldaccini NE. Feral pigeon populations: their gene pool and links with local domestic breeds. ZOOLOGY 2020; 142:125817. [PMID: 32763653 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2020.125817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Columba livia is a wild bird whose domestication has led to a large number of pigeon breeds. The occasional loss or straying of domestic birds determined the origin of feral pigeons, which are now widespread all around the world. In this study, we assumed that the main contribution to feral populations is provided by domestic breeds reared in the same areas. We tested this hypothesis by analysing the variability of 12 microsatellite loci in nine Italian feral populations sampled in areas with different intensities of breeding and selecting domestic breeds. We included in the analysis samples belonging to ten domestic lineages commonly bred in Italy. The pattern of geographic differentiation of feral populations turned out to be rather complex and only partially explained by the geographic distance between populations. This pattern can be understood only when the domestic breeds were included in the analysis. In particular, feral populations located in regions with a long-lasting tradition of pigeon breeding showed a high level of admixture with domestic breeds, in particular with Racing Homer and Piacentino. Ferals from Bolzano, Venice and Sassari were characterized by unique genetic components, mostly not shared by other feral populations and by the considered domestic breeds. Our results further emphasize the complex genetic structure of feral populations whose origin can be properly investigated by taking into account the pool of domestic pigeons bred in the considered area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Giunchi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Nadia Mucci
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Dipartimento per il monitoraggio e la tutela dell'ambiente e per la conservazione della biodiversità, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
| | - Daniele Bigi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Science (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 46, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Mengoni
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione (BIO-CGE), Dipartimento per il monitoraggio e la tutela dell'ambiente e per la conservazione della biodiversità, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - N Emilio Baldaccini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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Bruders R, Van Hollebeke H, Osborne EJ, Kronenberg Z, Maclary E, Yandell M, Shapiro MD. A copy number variant is associated with a spectrum of pigmentation patterns in the rock pigeon (Columba livia). PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008274. [PMID: 32433666 PMCID: PMC7239393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock pigeons (Columba livia) display an extraordinary array of pigment pattern variation. One such pattern, Almond, is characterized by a variegated patchwork of plumage colors that are distributed in an apparently random manner. Almond is a sex-linked, semi-dominant trait controlled by the classical Stipper (St) locus. Heterozygous males (ZStZ+ sex chromosomes) and hemizygous Almond females (ZStW) are favored by breeders for their attractive plumage. In contrast, homozygous Almond males (ZStZSt) develop severe eye defects and often lack plumage pigmentation, suggesting that higher dosage of the mutant allele is deleterious. To determine the molecular basis of Almond, we compared the genomes of Almond pigeons to non-Almond pigeons and identified a candidate St locus on the Z chromosome. We found a copy number variant (CNV) within the differentiated region that captures complete or partial coding sequences of four genes, including the melanosome maturation gene Mlana. We did not find fixed coding changes in genes within the CNV, but all genes are misexpressed in regenerating feather bud collar cells of Almond birds. Notably, six other alleles at the St locus are associated with depigmentation phenotypes, and all exhibit expansion of the same CNV. Structural variation at St is linked to diversity in plumage pigmentation and gene expression, and thus provides a potential mode of rapid phenotypic evolution in pigeons. The genetic changes responsible for different animal color patterns are poorly understood, due in part to a paucity of research organisms that are both genetically tractable and phenotypically diverse. Domestic pigeons (Columba livia) have been artificially selected for many traits, including an enormous variety of color patterns that are variable both within and among different breeds of this single species. We investigated the genetic basis of a sex-linked color pattern in pigeons called Almond that is characterized by a sprinkled pattern of plumage pigmentation. Pigeons with one copy of the Almond allele have desirable color pattern; however, male pigeons with two copies of the Almond mutation have severely depleted pigmentation and congenital eye defects. By comparing the genomes of Almond and non-Almond pigeons, we discovered that Almond pigeons have extra copies of a chromosome region that contains a gene that is critical for the formation of pigment granules. We also found that different numbers of copies of this region are associated with varying degrees of pigment reduction. The Almond phenotype in pigeons bears a remarkable resemblance to Merle coat color mutants in dogs, and our new results from pigeons suggest that similar genetic mechanisms underlie these traits in both species. Our work highlights the role of gene copy number variation as a potential driver of rapid phenotypic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bruders
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Hannah Van Hollebeke
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Edward J. Osborne
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Zev Kronenberg
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Emily Maclary
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Michael D. Shapiro
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Highly variable COI haplotype diversity between three species of invasive pest fruit fly reflects remarkably incongruent demographic histories. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6887. [PMID: 32327680 PMCID: PMC7181599 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63973-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Distance decay principles predict that species with larger geographic ranges would have greater intraspecific genetic diversity than more restricted species. However, invasive pest species may not follow this prediction, with confounding implications for tracking phenomena including original ranges, invasion pathways and source populations. We sequenced an 815 base-pair section of the COI gene for 441 specimens of Bactrocera correcta, 214 B. zonata and 372 Zeugodacus cucurbitae; three invasive pest fruit fly species with overlapping hostplants. For each species, we explored how many individuals would need to be included in a study to sample the majority of their haplotype diversity. We also tested for phylogeographic signal and used demographic estimators as a proxy for invasion potency. We find contrasting patterns of haplotype diversity amongst the species, where B. zonata has the highest diversity but most haplotypes were represented by singletons; B. correcta has ~7 dominant haplotypes more evenly distributed; Z. cucurbitae has a single dominant haplotype with closely related singletons in a 'star-shape' surrounding it. We discuss how these differing patterns relate to their invasion histories. None of the species showed meaningful phylogeographic patterns, possibly due to gene-flow between areas across their distributions, obscuring or eliminating substructure.
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21
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Gering E, Incorvaia D, Henriksen R, Conner J, Getty T, Wright D. Getting Back to Nature: Feralization in Animals and Plants. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:1137-1151. [PMID: 31488326 PMCID: PMC7479514 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Formerly domesticated organisms and artificially selected genes often escape controlled cultivation, but their subsequent evolution is not well studied. In this review, we examine plant and animal feralization through an evolutionary lens, including how natural selection, artificial selection, and gene flow shape feral genomes, traits, and fitness. Available evidence shows that feralization is not a mere reversal of domestication. Instead, it is shaped by the varied and complex histories of feral populations, and by novel selection pressures. To stimulate further insight we outline several future directions. These include testing how 'domestication genes' act in wild settings, studying the brains and behaviors of feral animals, and comparative analyses of feral populations and taxa. This work offers feasible and exciting research opportunities with both theoretical and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eben Gering
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL, USA.
| | - Darren Incorvaia
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Rie Henriksen
- IIFM Biology and AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey Conner
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Kellogg Biological Station and Dept. of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Getty
- Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Dominic Wright
- IIFM Biology and AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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22
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Pigeon foot feathering reveals conserved limb identity networks. Dev Biol 2019; 454:128-144. [PMID: 31247188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The tetrapod limb is a stunning example of evolutionary diversity, with dramatic variation not only among distantly related species, but also between the serially homologous forelimbs (FLs) and hindlimbs (HLs) within species. Despite this variation, highly conserved genetic and developmental programs underlie limb development and identity in all tetrapods, raising the question of how limb diversification is generated from a conserved toolkit. In some breeds of domestic pigeon, shifts in the expression of two conserved limb identity transcription factors, PITX1 and TBX5, are associated with the formation of feathered HLs with partial FL identity. To determine how modulation of PITX1 and TBX5 expression affects downstream gene expression, we compared the transcriptomes of embryonic limb buds from pigeons with scaled and feathered HLs. We identified a set of differentially expressed genes enriched for genes encoding transcription factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and components of developmental signaling pathways with important roles in limb development. A subset of the genes that distinguish scaled and feathered HLs are also differentially expressed between FL and scaled HL buds in pigeons, pinpointing a set of gene expression changes downstream of PITX1 and TBX5 in the partial transformation from HL to FL identity. We extended our analyses by comparing pigeon limb bud transcriptomes to chicken, anole lizard, and mammalian datasets to identify deeply conserved PITX1- and TBX5-responsive components of the limb identity program. Our analyses reveal a suite of predominantly low-level gene expression changes that are conserved across amniotes to regulate the identity of morphologically distinct limbs.
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Jones MEH, Button DJ, Barrett PM, Porro LB. Digital dissection of the head of the rock dove ( Columba livia) using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2019; 5:17. [PMID: 31205748 PMCID: PMC6558907 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-019-0129-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The rock dove (or common pigeon), Columba livia, is an important model organism in biological studies, including research focusing on head muscle anatomy, feeding kinematics, and cranial kinesis. However, no integrated computer-based biomechanical model of the pigeon head has yet been attempted. As an initial step towards achieving this goal, we present the first three-dimensional digital dissection of the pigeon head based on a contrast-enhanced computed tomographic dataset achieved using iodine potassium iodide as a staining agent. Our datasets enable us to visualize the skeletal and muscular anatomy, brain and cranial nerves, and major sense organs of the pigeon, including very small and fragile features, as well as maintaining the three-dimensional topology of anatomical structures. This work updates and supplements earlier anatomical work on this widely used laboratory organism. We resolve several key points of disagreement arising from previous descriptions of pigeon anatomy, including the precise arrangement of the external adductor muscles and their relationship to the posterior adductor. Examination of the eye muscles highlights differences between avian taxa and shows that pigeon eye muscles are more similar to those of a tinamou than they are to those of a house sparrow. Furthermore, we present our three-dimensional data as publicly accessible files for further research and education purposes. Digital dissection permits exceptional visualisation and will be a valuable resource for further investigations into the head anatomy of other bird species, as well as efforts to reconstruct soft tissues in fossil archosaurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc E. H. Jones
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - David J. Button
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Paul M. Barrett
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Laura B. Porro
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UCL, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK
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Yang S, Shi Z, Ou X, Liu G. Whole-genome resequencing reveals genetic indels of feathered-leg traits in domestic chickens. J Genet 2019; 98:47. [PMID: 31204699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Whole-genome resequencing provides the opportunity to explore the genomic variations and pave way for further functional assays to map the economical trait loci. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of mixed chicken samples from a full-sib family, with feathered and unfeathered legs at an average effective depth of 4.43×, using Illumina Hiseq 2000 instruments. Over 2.1 million nonredundant short indels (1-71 bp) were obtained. Among them, 16,375 common indels that were polymorphic between the comparison groups were revealed for further analysis. The majority of the common differential indels (76.52%) were novel. Follow-up validation assays confirmed that 80% randomly selected indels represented true variations. The indels were annotated based on the chicken genome sequence assembly. As a result, 16,375 indels were found to be located within 2756 annotated genes, with only 33 (0.202%) located in exons. By integrated analysis of the 2756 genes with gene function and known quantitative trait loci, we identified a total of 24 promising candidate genes potentially affecting feathered-leg trait, i.e. FGF1, FGF4, FGF10, FGFR1, FRZB, WNT1, WNT3A, WNT11, PCDH1, PCDH10, PCDH19, SOX3, BMP2, NOTCH2, TGF-β2, DLX5, REPS2, SCN3B, TCF20, FGF3, FSTL1, WNT7B, ELOVL2 and FGF8. Our findings provide a basis for further study and reveal key genes for feathered-leg trait in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Yang
- College of Food Science and Bioengineering, Hefei University of Technology, 193 Tunxi Road, Hefei 230009, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
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Yang S, Shi Z, OU X, LIU G. Whole-genome resequencing reveals genetic indels of feathered-leg traits in domestic chickens. J Genet 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-019-1083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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26
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Bingman VP. Requiem for a heavyweight – can anything more be learned from homing pigeons about the sensory and spatial-representational basis of avian navigation? J Exp Biol 2018; 221:221/20/jeb163089. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.163089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The homing pigeon (Columba livia) has long served as a study species to exhaustively investigate the sensory and spatial (map)-representational mechanisms that guide avian navigation. However, several factors have contributed to recent questioning of whether homing pigeons are as valuable as they once were as a general model for the study of the sensory and map-like, spatial-representational mechanisms of avian navigation. These reservations include: the success of this research program in unveiling navigational mechanisms; the burgeoning of new tracking technologies making navigational experiments on long-distance migratory and other wild birds much more accessible; the almost complete loss of the historically dominant, large-scale pigeon loft/research facilities; and prohibitive university per diem costs as well as animal care and use restrictions. Nevertheless, I propose here that there remain good prospects for homing pigeon research that could still profoundly influence how one understands aspects of avian navigation beyond sensory mechanisms and spatial-representational strategies. Indeed, research into neural mechanisms and brain organization, social/personality influences and genetics of navigation all offer opportunities to take advantage of the rich spatial behavior repertoire and experimental convenience of homing pigeons. Importantly, research in these areas would not necessarily require the large number of birds typically used in the past to study the sensory guidance of navigation. For those of us who have had the opportunity to work with this remarkable animal, one research door may be closing, but a window into exciting future opportunities lies ajar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verner P. Bingman
- Department of Psychology and J. P. Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
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27
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Ng CS, Li WH. Genetic and Molecular Basis of Feather Diversity in Birds. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:2572-2586. [PMID: 30169786 PMCID: PMC6171735 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Feather diversity is striking in many aspects. Although the development of feather has been studied for decades, genetic and genomic studies of feather diversity have begun only recently. Many questions remain to be answered by multidisciplinary approaches. In this review, we discuss three levels of feather diversity: Feather morphotypes, intraspecific variations, and interspecific variations. We summarize recent studies of feather evolution in terms of genetics, genomics, and developmental biology and provide perspectives for future research. Specifically, this review includes the following topics: 1) Diversity of feather morphotype; 2) feather diversity among different breeds of domesticated birds, including variations in pigmentation pattern, in feather length or regional identity, in feather orientation, in feather distribution, and in feather structure; and 3) diversity of feathers among avian species, including plumage color and morph differences between species and the regulatory differences in downy feather development between altricial and precocial birds. Finally, we discussed future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Siang Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsiung Li
- The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago
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28
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Abstract
Analyzing the genomes of rock pigeons demonstrates that genetic variation comes in many forms and can have unexpected origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Y Feigin
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Ricardo Mallarino
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
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29
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Vickrey AI, Bruders R, Kronenberg Z, Mackey E, Bohlender RJ, Maclary ET, Maynez R, Osborne EJ, Johnson KP, Huff CD, Yandell M, Shapiro MD. Introgression of regulatory alleles and a missense coding mutation drive plumage pattern diversity in the rock pigeon. eLife 2018; 7:e34803. [PMID: 30014848 PMCID: PMC6050045 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds and other vertebrates display stunning variation in pigmentation patterning, yet the genes controlling this diversity remain largely unknown. Rock pigeons (Columba livia) are fundamentally one of four color pattern phenotypes, in decreasing order of melanism: T-check, checker, bar (ancestral), or barless. Using whole-genome scans, we identified NDP as a candidate gene for this variation. Allele-specific expression differences in NDP indicate cis-regulatory divergence between ancestral and melanistic alleles. Sequence comparisons suggest that derived alleles originated in the speckled pigeon (Columba guinea), providing a striking example of introgression. In contrast, barless rock pigeons have an increased incidence of vision defects and, like human families with hereditary blindness, carry start-codon mutations in NDP. In summary, we find that both coding and regulatory variation in the same gene drives wing pattern diversity, and post-domestication introgression supplied potentially advantageous melanistic alleles to feral populations of this ubiquitous urban bird.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna I Vickrey
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Rebecca Bruders
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Zev Kronenberg
- Department of Human GeneticsUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Emma Mackey
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Ryan J Bohlender
- Department of Epidemiology, MD Anderson Cancer CenterUniversity of TexasHoustonUnited States
| | - Emily T Maclary
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Raquel Maynez
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Edward J Osborne
- Department of Human GeneticsUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Kevin P Johnson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research InstituteUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaignUnited States
| | - Chad D Huff
- Department of Epidemiology, MD Anderson Cancer CenterUniversity of TexasHoustonUnited States
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human GeneticsUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Michael D Shapiro
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
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30
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Re C, Fišer Ž, Perez J, Tacdol A, Trontelj P, Protas ME. Common Genetic Basis of Eye and Pigment Loss in Two Distinct Cave Populations of the Isopod Crustacean Asellus aquaticus. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 58:421-430. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Re
- Dominican University of California, 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA
| | - Žiga Fišer
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Justin Perez
- Dominican University of California, 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA
| | - Allyson Tacdol
- Dominican University of California, 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA
| | - Peter Trontelj
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Meredith E Protas
- Dominican University of California, 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA
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31
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Abstract
The domestic rock pigeon (Columba livia) is among the most widely distributed and phenotypically diverse avian species. C. livia is broadly studied in ecology, genetics, physiology, behavior, and evolutionary biology, and has recently emerged as a model for understanding the molecular basis of anatomical diversity, the magnetic sense, and other key aspects of avian biology. Here we report an update to the C. livia genome reference assembly and gene annotation dataset. Greatly increased scaffold lengths in the updated reference assembly, along with an updated annotation set, provide improved tools for evolutionary and functional genetic studies of the pigeon, and for comparative avian genomics in general.
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32
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Su YH, Yu JK. EvoDevo: Changes in developmental controls underlying the evolution of animal body plans. Dev Biol 2017; 427:177-178. [PMID: 28559107 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsien Su
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Jr-Kai Yu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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33
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MacManes MD, Austin SH, Lang AS, Booth A, Farrar V, Calisi RM. Widespread patterns of sexually dimorphic gene expression in an avian hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45125. [PMID: 28417958 PMCID: PMC5394691 DOI: 10.1038/srep45125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is a key biological system required for reproduction and associated sexual behaviors to occur. In the avian reproductive model of the rock dove (Columba livia), we characterized the transcript community of each tissue of the HPG axis in both sexes, thereby significantly expanding our mechanistic insight into HPG activity. We report greater sex-biased differential expression in the pituitary as compared to the hypothalamus, with multiple genes more highly expressed in the male pituitary being related to secretory function, and multiple genes more highly expressed in the female pituitary being related to reproduction, growth, and development. We report tissue-specific and sex-biased expression in genes commonly investigated when studying reproduction, highlighting the need for sex parity in future studies. In addition, we uncover new targets of investigation in both sexes, which could potentially change our understanding of HPG function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D MacManes
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824, USA
| | - Suzanne H Austin
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis. Davis CA. 95616, USA
| | - Andrew S Lang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824, USA
| | - April Booth
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis. Davis CA. 95616, USA
| | - Victoria Farrar
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis. Davis CA. 95616, USA
| | - Rebecca M Calisi
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis. Davis CA. 95616, USA
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34
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Genomic determinants of epidermal appendage patterning and structure in domestic birds. Dev Biol 2017; 429:409-419. [PMID: 28347644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Variation in regional identity, patterning, and structure of epidermal appendages contributes to skin diversity among many vertebrate groups, and is perhaps most striking in birds. In pioneering work on epidermal appendage patterning, John Saunders and his contemporaries took advantage of epidermal appendage diversity within and among domestic chicken breeds to establish the importance of mesoderm-ectoderm signaling in determining skin patterning. Diversity in chickens and other domestic birds, including pigeons, is driving a new wave of research to dissect the molecular genetic basis of epidermal appendage patterning. Domestic birds are not only outstanding models for embryonic manipulations, as Saunders recognized, but they are also ideal genetic models for discovering the specific genes that control normal development and the mutations that contribute to skin diversity. Here, we review recent genetic and genomic approaches to uncover the basis of epidermal macropatterning, micropatterning, and structural variation. We also present new results that confirm expression changes in two limb identity genes in feather-footed pigeons, a case of variation in appendage structure and identity.
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35
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Craniofacial diversification in the domestic pigeon and the evolution of the avian skull. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:95. [PMID: 28812673 PMCID: PMC5559897 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A central question in evolutionary developmental biology is how highly conserved developmental systems can generate the remarkable phenotypic diversity observed among distantly related species. In part, this paradox reflects our limited knowledge about the potential for species to both respond to selection and generate novel variation. Consequently, the developmental links between small-scale microevolutionary variations within populations to larger macroevolutionary patterns among species remains unbridged. Domesticated species such as the pigeon are unique resources for addressing this question because a history of strong artificial selection has significantly increased morphological diversity, offering a direct comparison of the developmental potential of a single species to broader evolutionary patterns. Here we demonstrate that patterns of variation and covariation within and between the face and braincase in domesticated breeds of the pigeon are predictive of avian cranial evolution. These results indicate that selection on variation generated by a conserved developmental system is sufficient to explain the evolution of crania as different in shape as the albatross or eagle, parakeet or hummingbird. These “rules” of craniofacial variation are a common pattern in the evolution of a broad diversity of vertebrate species, and may ultimately reflect structural limitations of a shared embryonic bauplan on functional variation.
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