Novel Tissue Mechanics-Guided Cellular Flows Enable the Evolution of Feather Follicles

October 2025

Hans I‐Chen Harn, Ting-Xin Jiang, Chih-Han Huang, Wen‐Tau Juan, Tzu‐Yu Liu, Tsao‐Chi Chuang, Wan-Chi Liao, Yingxiao Wang, Cornelis J. Weijer, Ping Wu, Chin‐Lin Guo, Cheng‐Ming Chuong, Cheng-Ming Chuong

feather follicle evolution cellular flows tissue mechanics avian skin development dermal condensates epithelial sheet YAP dermal papillae topological transformations

Studysummary This study revealed that during avian skin development, complex tissue architecture results from specific cellular flows and mechanical processes that guide feather bud protrusion and elongation, with distinct differences noted in scale development, where rigidity restricts such transformations.

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