TLDR Gap junctions help control feather pattern formation in chickens.
This study investigates the role of gap junctions (GJs) in Turing-type periodic feather pattern formation using chicken skin as a model. The researchers found that 7 out of 12 GJ isoforms are dynamically expressed during feather development. Disruption of the GJ isoform connexin 30 led to altered feather bud formation, suggesting that GJ-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC) plays a role in pattern propagation. Inhibition of GJIC allowed new feather buds to form in specific spatial patterns, indicating that GJs may facilitate long-distance inhibitory signaling. The study proposes that modulating GJ activity can influence Turing-type pattern formation, supported by computational simulations predicting ectopic bud emergence.
22 citations
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May 2021 in “Nature Communications” Tissue stiffness affects hair follicle regeneration, and Twist1 is a key regulator.
133 citations
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February 2019 in “PLoS Biology” Feather patterns in birds are shaped by signaling interactions and cell movements, with EDA/EDAR crucial for pattern formation.
207 citations
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March 2012 in “Development” Skin needs dermal β-catenin activity for hair growth and skin cell multiplication.
103 citations
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March 2011 in “PLoS Biology” Birds can lose neck feathers due to a genetic change that increases a gene's activity, helping them adapt to heat.
117 citations
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November 2006 in “Experimental Dermatology” The article concludes that the wool follicle is a valuable model for studying tissue interactions and has potential for genetic improvements in wool production.
112 citations
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January 2004 in “The International journal of developmental biology” Feather patterns form through genetic and epigenetic controls, with cells self-organizing into periodic patterns.
April 2023 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Gap junctions help control feather pattern formation by enabling cell communication.
4 citations
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June 2023 in “Journal of developmental biology” The skin systems of jawed vertebrates evolved diverse appendages like hair and scales from a common structure over 420 million years ago.
92 citations
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December 2012 in “Current opinion in genetics & development” Turing patterns are now recognized as important in developmental biology.
26 citations
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January 2019 in “Experimental Dermatology” Researchers created early-stage hair-like structures from skin cells, showing how these cells can self-organize, but more is needed for complete hair growth.
47 citations
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May 2012 in “Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Developmental Biology” The conclusion is that understanding how feathers and hairs pattern can help in developing hair regeneration treatments.
