scholarly journals Two Genomic Loci Control Three Eye Colors in the Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily T. Maclary ◽  
Bridget Phillips ◽  
Ryan Wauer ◽  
Elena F. Boer ◽  
Rebecca Bruders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Color Variation ◽  
Domestic Pigeon ◽  
Eye Color ◽  
Solute Carrier ◽  
Neural Crest Migration ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

ABSTRACTThe iris of the eye shows striking color variation across vertebrate species, and may play important roles in crypsis and communication. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) has three common iris colors, orange, pearl (white), and bull (dark brown), segregating in a single species, thereby providing a unique opportunity to identify the genetic basis of iris coloration. We used comparative genomics and genetic mapping in laboratory crosses to identify two candidate genes that control variation in iris color in domestic pigeons. We identified a nonsense mutation in the solute carrier SLC2A11B that is shared among all pigeons with pearl eye color, and a locus associated with bull eye color that includes EDNRB2, a gene involved in neural crest migration and pigment development. However, bull eye is likely controlled by a heterogeneous collection of alleles across pigeon breeds. We also found that the EDNRB2 region is associated with regionalized plumage depigmentation (piebalding). Our results establish a genetic link between iris and plumage color, two traits that were long known by pigeon breeders to co-occur, and demonstrate the importance of gene duplicates in establishing possibilities and constraints in the evolution of color and color pattern among vertebrates.

scholarly journals Two Genomic Loci Control Three Eye Colors in the Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily T Maclary ◽  
Bridget Phillips ◽  
Ryan Wauer ◽  
Elena F Boer ◽  
Rebecca Bruders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Color Variation ◽  
Domestic Pigeon ◽  
Eye Color ◽  
Evolution Of Birds ◽  
Solute Carrier ◽  
Neural Crest Migration ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

Abstract The iris of the eye shows striking color variation across vertebrate species, and may play important roles in crypsis and communication. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) has three common iris colors, orange, pearl (white), and bull (dark brown), segregating in a single species, thereby providing a unique opportunity to identify the genetic basis of iris coloration. We used comparative genomics and genetic mapping in laboratory crosses to identify two candidate genes that control variation in iris color in domestic pigeons. We identified a nonsense mutation in the solute carrier SLC2A11B that is shared among all pigeons with pearl eye color, and a locus associated with bull eye color that includes EDNRB2, a gene involved in neural crest migration and pigment development. However, bull eye is likely controlled by a heterogeneous collection of alleles across pigeon breeds. We also found that the EDNRB2 region is associated with regionalized plumage depigmentation (piebalding). Our study identifies two candidate genes for eye colors variation, and establishes a genetic link between iris and plumage color, two traits that vary widely in the evolution of birds and other vertebrates.

scholarly journals transatlantic Movement of Domestic PIGEONS Columba livia domestica

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (04) ◽  
pp. 781-790
Author(s):  
Gabriel Silva Santos ◽  
◽  
Maurício Brandão Vecchi ◽  
Maria Alice Santos Alves
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Flight Performance ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Southwest Atlantic ◽  
Domestic Pigeon ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

Historically, Domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica Gmelin,1789) (Columbiformes, Columbidae) breeders use the species to promotes race competitions which over the time could select traits to increase the flight performance and spatial orientation capabilities. Although the species has remarkable navigational abilities, it is possible that these birds sometimes become disoriented pushing the individuals to fly off-course and over distances larger than usual. Here we report a Domestic Pigeon ringed in the Canary Islands (Spain) observed in the Abrolhos Archipelago, eastern Brazil, and compiled similar events (N = 5) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean coast. Our results indicate that these events are largely unnoticed in the scientific literature as most of them were found in non-scientific newspaper and academic conferences, thus, untraceable from scientific databases as Scopus and Google Scholar. As domestic pigeons are possible intermediate hosts of diseases, we encourage the creation of a systematized database of this kind of movements of these birds, including the profile of these vagrants and the circumstances in which these events occur, which can be a basis to be used for scientists and decision makers.

scholarly journals The Almond plumage color pattern is associated with eye pigmentation defects in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Bruders ◽  
Max Sidesinger ◽  
Michael D. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Ciliary Body ◽  
Mutant Allele ◽  
Anterior Segment ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Retinal Pigmented Epithelium ◽  
Plumage Color ◽  
Domestic Pigeon ◽  
Pigmented Epithelium ◽  
Eye Pigmentation

AbstractChanges in epidermal pigmentation are associated with eye defects in humans and other vertebrates. In the rock pigeon (Columba livia), the sex-linked Almond color pattern is characterized by hypopigmentation of epidermal structures. The trait is controlled by the classical Stipper (St) locus, and homozygous (ZStZSt) Almond males often have severe eye defects. Heterozygous (ZStZ+) and hemizygous (ZStW) pigeons do not typically have obvious eye defects, suggesting that higher dosage of the mutant allele is deleterious. Because Almond pigeons have pronounced hypopigmentation in epidermal structures, we hypothesized that they might also have reduced eye pigmentation. Here, we examined pigmentation in the iris, ciliary body, anterior retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), and posterior RPE in pigeons with and without Almond alleles. We found that pigmentation of anterior segment structures was reduced in birds with at least one Almond allele. However, posterior eye pigmentation was substantially reduced only in homozygous Almond birds. We postulate that the gradient of effects on eye pigmentation is due to the different embryological origins of anterior and posterior eye pigment-producing cells.

scholarly journals The Genetics and Evolution of Eye Color in Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Si ◽  
Xiao Xu ◽  
Yan Zhuang ◽  
Xiaodong Gao ◽  
Honghai Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Premature Stop Codon ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Eye Color ◽  
Iris Color ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

The avian eye color, generally referred to the color of the iris, results from both pigments and structural coloration. Avian iris colors exhibit striking interspecific and, in some domestic species, intraspecific variations, suggesting unique evolutionary and ecological histories. Here we tackled the genetic basis of the pearl (white) iris color in domestic pigeons (Columba livia), to elucidate the largely unknown genetic mechanism underlying the evolution of avian iris coloration. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 92 pigeons, we mapped the pearl iris trait to a 9 kb region and a facilitative glucose transporter gene SLC2A11B. A nonsense mutation W49X leading to a premature stop codon in SLC2A11B was identified as the causal variant. Transcriptome analysis suggested that SLC2A11B loss-of-function may downregulate the xanthophore-differentiation gene CSF1R, and a key gene GCH1 involved in biosynthesis of pteridine, whose absence results in pearl iris. Coalescence and phylogenetic analyses indicated the mutation originated about 5,400 years ago coinciding with the onset of pigeon domestication, while positive selection was detected likely associated with artificial breeding. Within Aves, potentially impaired SLC2A11B was found in 10 species from six distinct lineages correlated to their signature brown or blue eyes. Analysis of vertebrate SLC2A11B orthologs revealed relaxed selection in the avian clade, consistent with the scenario that, during and after avian divergence from reptile ancestor, the SLC2A11B-involved development of dermal chromatophores likely degenerated due to feather coverage. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism of avian iris color variations and the evolution of pigmentation in vertebrates.

scholarly journals Prevalence of coccidia in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica Gmelin, 1789) in Benghazi city, Libya

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Samira Al-Agouri ◽  
Nadia Alrwab ◽  
Hussien Amgawer ◽  
Ghazala Sadaga ◽  
Mohamed Idris Alshelmani
Keyword(s):  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Intestinal Content ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Domestic Pigeon ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Eimeria Spp ◽  
Intestinal Contents ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

Pigeon coccidiosis is caused by Eimeria spp; a protozoan parasite which limits birds’ productivity by causing severe illness. The current study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of coccidiosis on domestic pigeon in Libya. Intestinal contents of 100 pigeons (Columba livia domestica Gmelin, 1789) were collected within a period of five months; January to May 2020. The intestinal content was examined to detect of coccidian oocysts infection on the randomly selected birds. A total of 100 faecal samples were investigated with two methods;Willis-Schaafs (qualitative) and McMaster’s (quantitative). The results obtained showed that the number of infected Pigeons was 72 pigeons (72%) of the total number of Pigeons. The prevalence was higher in female than that of males, where the total of infected females was 50 (69.4 %) and infected males was 22 (30.6%). The results showed that the highest incidence of Eimeria labbeana was observed in the young pigeons than that of adults, where the total number of young pigeons was 66 (91.7 %), and adult pigeon was 6 (8.3 %).

scholarly journals The genetics and evolution of eye color in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. e1009770
Author(s):  
Si Si ◽  
Xiao Xu ◽  
Yan Zhuang ◽  
Xiaodong Gao ◽  
Honghai Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Premature Stop Codon ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Eye Color ◽  
Iris Color ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

The eye color of birds, generally referring to the color of the iris, results from both pigmentation and structural coloration. Avian iris colors exhibit striking interspecific and intraspecific variations that correspond to unique evolutionary and ecological histories. Here, we identified the genetic basis of pearl (white) iris color in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) to explore the largely unknown genetic mechanism underlying the evolution of avian iris coloration. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 92 pigeons, we mapped the pearl iris trait to a 9 kb region containing the facilitative glucose transporter gene SLC2A11B. A nonsense mutation (W49X) leading to a premature stop codon in SLC2A11B was identified as the causal variant. Transcriptome analysis suggested that SLC2A11B loss of function may downregulate the xanthophore-differentiation gene CSF1R and the key pteridine biosynthesis gene GCH1, thus resulting in the pearl iris phenotype. Coalescence and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the mutation originated approximately 5,400 years ago, coinciding with the onset of pigeon domestication, while positive selection was likely associated with artificial breeding. Within Aves, potentially impaired SLC2A11B was found in six species from six distinct lineages, four of which associated with their signature brown or blue eyes. Analysis of vertebrate SLC2A11B orthologs revealed relaxed selection in the avian clade, consistent with the scenario that during and after avian divergence from the reptilian ancestor, the SLC2A11B-involved development of dermal chromatophores likely degenerated in the presence of feather coverage. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism of avian iris color variations and the evolution of pigmentation in vertebrates.

A functional analysis of the primary upstroke and downstroke muscles in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) during flight

1988 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Dial ◽  
S. R. Kaplan ◽  
G. E. Goslow ◽  
F. A. Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Domestic Pigeon ◽  
Level Flight ◽  
Emg Signal ◽  
Depressor Muscle ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

In domestic pigeons (Columba livia), the electrical activity of the major depressor muscle of the wing, the pectoralis (pars thoracicus), beings in late upstroke well before the wing begins its downstroke excursion. The two architecturally distinct heads of the pectoralis, the sternobrachialis and the thoracobrachialis, are differentially recruited during take-off, level flight and landing. In addition to wing depression, the sternobrachialis protracts the humerus and the thoracobrachialis retracts the humerus. At the point of transition from wing upstroke to downstroke, the pectoralis EMG signal typically exhibits a reduction in amplitude. The supracoracoideus, in addition to an expected EMG associated with wing elevation, is co-activated with the pectoralis about 50% of the time.

scholarly journals Complex genetic architecture of three-dimensional craniofacial shape variation in domestic pigeons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena F. Boer ◽  
Emily T. Maclary ◽  
Michael D. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Craniofacial Morphology ◽  
Shape Variation ◽  
Human Pathology ◽  
Craniofacial Variation ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

AbstractDeciphering the genetic basis of vertebrate craniofacial variation is a longstanding biological problem with broad implications in evolution, development, and human pathology. One of the most stunning examples of craniofacial diversification is the adaptive radiation of birds, in which the beak serves essential roles in virtually every aspect of their life histories. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) provides an exceptional opportunity to study the genetic underpinnings of craniofacial variation because of its unique balance of experimental accessibility and extraordinary phenotypic diversity within a single species. We used traditional and geometric morphometrics to quantify craniofacial variation in an F2 laboratory cross derived from the straight-beaked Pomeranian Pouter and curved-beak Scandaroon pigeon breeds. Using a combination of genome-wide quantitative trait locus scans and multi-locus modeling, we identified a set of genetic loci associated with complex shape variation in the craniofacial skeleton, including beak curvature, braincase shape, and mandible shape. Some of these loci control coordinated changes between different structures, while others explain variation in the size and shape of specific skull and jaw regions. We find that in domestic pigeons, a complex blend of both independent and coupled genetic effects underlie three-dimensional craniofacial morphology.

MICROSCOPIC AND MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF Ascaridia spp. IN DOMESTIC PIGEONS(Columba livia domestica) IN BAGHDAD CITY,IRAQ

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1220-1225
Author(s):  
Faraj & Al- Amery
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Diagnosis ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Ascaridia Galli ◽  
Molecular Assay ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

Ascaridiosis is a very important parasitic disease of birds, it is caused by Ascaridia. This study was conducted to identify the Ascaridia species by microscopic and molecular assay in Baghdad city. One hundred and sixty fecal samples were collected from domestic pigeons during the period from 1/1/ 2019 to 31/3/ 2019.  Results showed that the rate of infection for Ascaridia spp. 15.62% by microscopic examination.  Significant difference was observed in infection rates between males and females pigeons. Fifty samples randomly selected and subjected to molecular diagnosis of Ascaridia  spp.. Molecular examination results, the total infection rate showed 16%(8/50). The eight  positive PCR products were sequenced and deposited in Gene bank data base, phylogenic analysis demonstrated that 4 sequences belongs to Ascaridia galli ( MK918635.1, MK918636.1, MK918847.1, MK919081.1), while 2 (MK919199.1, MK919200.1) belong to  Ascaridia nymphii and 2 (MK919207.1, MK919264.1)  belong to Ascaridia numidae. It is the first study in Iraq to diagnosis of  Ascaridia nymphii and Ascaridia numidae  in domesticed pigeons by using conventional PCR.

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