Domestication and the comparative embryology of birds. Issue 8 (23rd May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cordero, Gerardo A.; Werneburg, Ingmar
• Other Names: Sánchez‐Villagra Marcelo R. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental zoology. Volume 338:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 447
• Page End: 459
• Publication Date: 2022-05-23
• Subjects: avian embryology -- chicken -- developmental variance -- domesticated birds; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; Molecular evolution -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; Evolution, Molecular -- Periodicals; Developmental Biology -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; 591
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5007

Abstract

Abstract: Studies of domesticated animals have greatly contributed to our understanding of avian embryology. Foundational questions in developmental biology were motivated by Aristotle's observations of chicken embryos. By the 19th century, the chicken embryo was at the center stage of developmental biology, but how closely does this model species mirror the ample taxonomic diversity that characterizes the avian tree of life? Here, we provide a brief overview of the taxonomic breadth of comparative embryological studies in birds. We particularly focused on staging tables and papers that attempted to document the timing of developmental transformations. We show that most of the current knowledge of avian embryology is based on Galliformes (chicken and quail) and Anseriformes (duck and goose). Nonetheless, data are available for some ecologically diverse avian subclades, including Struthioniformes (e.g., ostrich, emu) and Sphenisciformes (penguins). Thus far, there has only been a handful of descriptive embryological studies in the most speciose subclade of Aves, that is, the songbirds (Passeriniformes). Furthermore, we found that temporal variances for developmental events are generally uniform across a consensus chronological sequence for birds. Based on the available data, developmental trajectories for chicken and other model species appear to be highly similar. We discuss future avenues of research in comparative avian embryology in light of the currently available wealth of data on domesticated species and beyond. Abstract : The sequence of developmental events in the domestic chicken is highly congruent with that of the zebra finch. Research Highlights: Embryonic development has been studied in less than 1% of known bird species. The developmental biology of avian species is primarily built on observations made in chicken, quail, duck, and goose. Data on the timing of developmental events is sparsely distributed across the avian tree of life. Ontogenetic trajectories in model bird species are highly evolutionarily conserved.