Pigeon foot feather genes identified: Study hints how scaly dinosaur legs could get birdlike feathers
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - 03:30
in Biology & Nature
University of Utah scientists identified two genes that make some pigeon breeds develop feathered feet known as muffs, while others have scaled feet. The same or similar genes might explain scaled feet in chickens and other birds, and provide insight into how some dinosaurs got feathers before they evolved into birds.