36 citations,
November 2019 in “Molecular biology and evolution” Cysteine-rich keratins evolved independently in mammals, reptiles, and birds for hard skin structures like hair, claws, and feathers.
December 2024 in “Genome Biology and Evolution” Snakes and worm lizards lost claw proteins due to similar evolutionary changes.
8 citations,
April 2014 in “Experimental Dermatology” Mammals and birds have evolved poisonous skin and feathers for defense.
1 citations,
December 2022 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Pangolins have lost some skin-related genes, but kept others, showing complex skin evolution.
Hairlessness in mammals is due to complex genetic changes in both genes and regulatory regions.