A genetic mechanism for sexual dichromatism in birds

Małgorzata A. Gazda, Pedro M. Araújo, Ricardo J. Lopes, Matthew B. Toomey, Pedro Andrade, Sandra Afonso, Cristiana Marques, Luís Nunes, Paulo Pereira, Sandra Trigo, Geoffrey E. Hill, Joseph C. Corbo, Miguel Carneiro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sexual dichromatism, a difference in coloration between males and females, may be due to sexual selection for ornamentation and mate choice. Here, we show that carotenoid-based dichromatism in mosaic canaries, a hybrid phenotype that arises in offspring of the sexually dichromatic red siskin and monochromatic canaries, is controlled by the gene that encodes the carotenoid-cleaving enzyme b-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2). Dichromatism in mosaic canaries is explained by differential carotenoid degradation in the integument, rather than sex-specific variation in physiological functions such as pigment uptake or transport. Transcriptome analyses suggest that carotenoid degradation in the integument might be a common mechanism contributing to sexual dichromatism across finches. These results suggest that differences in ornamental coloration between sexes can evolve through simple molecular mechanisms controlled by genes of major effect.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1270-1274
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume368
Issue number6496
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 12 2020

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