Abstract
Beak shape is a classic example of evolutionary diversification. Beak development in chicken and duck was used to examine morphological variations among avian species. There is only one proliferative zone in the frontonasal mass of chickens, but two in ducks. These growth zones are associated with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) activity. By "tinkering" with BMP4 in beak prominences, the shapes of the chicken beak can be modulated.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Beak / embryology*
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism*
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Carrier Proteins
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Cell Division
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Chick Embryo*
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Chickens / genetics
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Chickens / metabolism
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Ducks / embryology*
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Ducks / genetics
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Ducks / metabolism
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Gene Transfer Techniques
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Genetic Vectors
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Mesoderm / metabolism
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Morphogenesis
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Proteins / genetics
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Proteins / physiology
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Species Specificity
Substances
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Recombinant Proteins
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noggin protein