I would like to find a candidate gene for melanin based coloration in the great tit. Melanin based plumage coloration is a heritable trait in the great tit.
In some birds, humans and mice, researchers found that the MC1R gene is responsible for melanin based coloration but in some animals there is no significant relation between melanin based coloration and the MC1R gene.
I think that this article should be interesting for you:
Hubbard et al. 2010. Vertebrate pigmentation: from underlying genes to adaptive function. Trends in Genetics Vol.26 No.5: 231-239.
If you are really talking about melanin (not other birds pigments) it should be relatively easy by a blast comparison to find out the genes related to tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2, the 3 proteins regulating melanin biosynthesis in birds and mammals. I am not very familiar with genetic analysis, but I am with melanin. I have seen genetic data about the proteins from chickens and quails.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Zoology
- Ornithology