The colorful phenotypes of birds have long provided rich source material for evolutionary
biologists. Avian plumage, beaks, skin, and eggs—which exhibit a stunning range of cryptic …

Vertebrate pigmentation patterns are amongst the best characterised model systems for
studying the genetic basis of adaptive evolution. The wealth of available data on the genetic …

Remarkably well-preserved soft tissues in Mesozoic fossils have yielded substantial insights
into the evolution of feathers 1. New evidence of branched feathers in pterosaurs suggests …

Albinism is a group of inherited disorders mainly affecting skin, hair and eyes. Here we
identify a de novo point mutation, p. R210C, in the TPCN2 gene which encodes Two Pore …

Fossil proteins are valuable tools in evolutionary biology. Recent technological advances
and better integration of experimental methods have confirmed the feasibility of …

Amphibian skin is a particularly complex organ that is primarily responsible for respiration,
osmoregulation, thermoregulation, defense, water absorption, and communication. The skin …

Carotenoid pigments underlie most of the red, orange, and yellow visual signals used in
mate choice in vertebrates. However, many of the underlying processes surrounding the …

The discovery of biological activities of natural products plays a vital part in drug
development. The mechanism by which organisms respond to temperature changes via …

Reptiles display great diversity in color and pattern, yet much of what we know about
vertebrate coloration comes from classic model species such as the mouse and zebrafish. 1 …

The pigments known as the melanins are widely recognized for their responsibility in the
coloration of human skin, eyes, hair, and minimising the harmful effects of solar ultraviolet …