At the American Society for Cell Biology's 2006 conference, scientists will describe their latest research on patterning, on the molecular and systems level. The scientists looked at how feather ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Researchers inhibited a gene during embryonic development in chickens to see if it would make ...

Birds possess unique skin appendages called feathers that are derived from the outermost layer of skin cells. Feathers are important for several functions, such as flight, temperature regulation, ...

As part of their study of feather evolution, scientists have tried to restore the original appearance of chickens. They succeeded, but only temporarily. By inhibiting the key gene Sonic Hedgehog at ...

Birds show an amazing diversity in plumage color and patterning. But what are the genetic mechanisms creating such patterns? Researchers now report that two independent mutations are required to ...

Scientists have successfully genetically modified chickens to make their feathers resemble those of dinosaurs. This study is part of a broader effort to understand how and why feathers evolved.

A regular-sized chicken has at least 10,000 feathers. With Americans eating 8 billion chickens annually, the feather supply is endless. Unlike geese, chickens don’t produce the type of down needed to ...

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in a well organized spatial pattern. How adult stem cells regenerate and pattern themselves are mostly unknown.

Spots v stripes A discovery that reveals how bird feathers get their patterns also has implications for regenerative medicine, say scientists. Feathers not only keep birds warm and protect them from ...