BACKGROUND The interdisciplinary field of animal coloration is growing rapidly, spanning
questions about the diverse ways that animals use pigments and structures to generate …

All transcription factors are equal, but some are more equal than others. In the 25 yr since
the gene encoding the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was first …

Certain transcription factors have vital roles in lineage development, including specification
of cell types and control of differentiation. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor …

Adaptive evolution in new or changing environments can be difficult to predict because the
functional connections between genotype, phenotype, and fitness are complex. Here, we …

The color patterns of African cichlid fishes provide notable examples of phenotypic
convergence. Across the more than 1200 East African rift lake species, melanic horizontal …

Melanins are widespread pigments in vertebrates, with important roles in visual signaling,
UV protection, and homeostasis. Fossil evidence of melanin and melanin-bearing …

Mammalian colors and color patterns are some of the most diverse and conspicuous traits
found in nature and have been widely studied from genetic/developmental and evolutionary …

The colorful phenotypes of birds have long provided rich source material for evolutionary
biologists. Avian plumage, beaks, skin, and eggs—which exhibit a stunning range of cryptic …

Patterns of diel activity—how animals allocate their activity throughout the 24-h daily cycle—
play key roles in shaping the internal physiology of an animal and its relationship with the …

Animal pigment patterns are excellent models to elucidate mechanisms of biological
organization. Although theoretical simulations, such as Turing reaction–diffusion systems …