The Coucou de Rennes is one example of striped feather characteristic as a result of sex-linked barring. Photo: Édouard Hue

Birds show an amazing diversity in plumage color and patterning. But what are the genetic mechanisms creating such patterns? In a new study published in PLOS Genetics, led by Leif Andersson, Uppsala University/SciLifeLab, Swedish and French researchers report that two independent mutations are required to explain the development of the sex-linked barring pattern in chicken. Both mutations affect the function of CDKN2A, a tumor suppressor gene associated with melanoma in humans.

Read full press release

Read scientific article