Blue Genes Media’s Post

This is a quick illustration inspired by pigeon color genetics. During a walk around NYC, I noticed that most pigeons had dark-colored plumage and only a few were red or brown. The University of Utah provides an overview of the genetics responsible for pigeon color. According to Domyan et al., (2014), 3 genes control the color of a rock pigeon (Columba livia). The sex-linked gene, Tyrp1, has alleles (different versions of a gene) that establish the base pigeon color of either blue/black, ash-red, or brown. Each allele produces a different variation of the TYRP1 protein which influences the type and amount of melanin formed that gives the feathers its hue. Blue/black is considered the wild type (not a mutation) however the allele for ash-red is dominant. A different pigeon color, red, results from the mutated recessive red allele located on the second involved gene, Sox10. When the pigeon inherits the recessive red allele from both parents, there is an epistatic effect on the Tyrp1 gene so that the pigeon will always be red regardless of the base color. The third involved gene, Slc45a2, controls whether the color of the plumage is highly saturated or washed out. Population genetics can influence the distribution of phenotypes. A paper by Chatelain, Gasparini, and Frantz (2014) discusses a theory that blue/black pigeons may have an adaptive advantage since the melanin that produces their darker color has a proclivity to bind to heavy metals, such as the type found in the urban environment. The researchers hypothesized that toxic metal ions can bind with the melanin molecules in the birds’ bloodstream leading to the extraction and storage of the toxins in the bird’s feathers. This would result in the blue/black pigeons being more suited to urban environments. Something to think about next time you take a stroll around a city! #sciart References 1.     Chatelain, M., Gasparini, J., Jacquin, L., & Frantz, A. (2014). The adaptive function of melanin-based plumage coloration to trace metals. Biology letters, 10(3), 20140164. 2.     Domyan, E.T., Guernsey, M.W., Kronenberg, Z.N., Krishnan, S., Boissy, R.E., Vickrey, A.I., Rodgers, C., Cassidy, P.B., Leachman, S.A., Fondon, J.W., Yandell, M., & Shapiro, M.D. (2014). Epistatic and Combinatorial Effects of Pigmentary Gene Mutations in the Domestic Pigeon. Current Biology, 24, 459-464. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/edRExPYN.

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