Intensive artificial selection over thousands of years has produced hundreds of varieties of
domestic pigeon. As Charles Darwin observed, the morphological differences among …

Birds and other vertebrates display stunning variation in pigmentation patterning, yet the
genes controlling this diversity remain largely unknown. Rock pigeons (Columba livia) are …

Understanding the molecular basis of phenotypic diversity is a critical challenge in biology,
yet we know little about the mechanistic effects of different mutations and epistatic …

Domestic pigeons are spectacularly diverse and exhibit variation in more traits than any
other bird species [1]. In The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin repeatedly calls attention to …

Racing pigeons have been selectively bred to find their way home quickly over what are
often extremely long distances. This breed is of substantial commercial value and is also an …

To meet human needs, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) with various phenotypes have
been bred to provide genetic material for our research on artificial selection and local …

Rock pigeons (Columba livia) display an extraordinary array of pigment pattern variation.
One such pattern, Almond, is characterized by a variegated patchwork of plumage colors …

Organismal adaptations are the hallmark of natural selection. Studies of adaptations in avian
systems have been central to key conceptual and empirical advances in the field of …

Variation in pigment patterns within and among vertebrate species reflects underlying
changes in cell migration and function that can impact health, reproductive success, and …

Through its long history of artificial selection, the rock pigeon (Columba livia Gmelin 1789)
was forged into a large number of domestic breeds. The incredible amount of phenotypic …