2026/04/11 by Wen Kang, Günter P. Wagner, Qi Zhou · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Congenital limb and hand anomalies
paper · doi:10.1093/molbev/msag101
openalex publication_date 2026/04/11 · openalex created_date 2026/04/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The amniote digits have undergone recurrent modifications, with the diversified molecular mechanisms more studied among mammals than reptiles. Here we focus on the emu wings and ostrich feet, both of which experienced species-specific digit changes driven respectively by secondary flight loss and adaptation to running. By comparing their digit transcriptomes to those of chicken and alligator, we identified different gene networks in skeleton/muscle development responsible for the degenerated digits in archosaur ancestors and emu, but those in epidermal development for the load-bearing digit of ostrich. These results provide new clues for developmental programs of different cell types between different digits, on which natural selection can convergently operate.