Genetics of craniofacial variation in domestic pigeon

The goal of this study is to identify the genetic basis of craniofacial variation in domestic pigeons. We use a combination of comparative genomic and quantitative genetic approaches to pinpoint genomic variants associated with variation in beak and braincase size and shape in diverse pigeon breeds. The genes and developmental pathways regulating vertebrate craniofacial morphogenesis are deeply conserved, therefore the striking craniofacial diversity in pigeons provides an outstanding opportunity to uncover genetic regulators of vertebrate craniofacial variation.