Genomics and Evolution of Sauropsid Traits in the Genomics Era

Dear Colleagues, 

Birds have diversified to all habitats on earth, which concurrently has led to the evolution of multiple diverse and unique traits. Feathers are perhaps the most noticeable characteristic due to their vibrant colors and morphological diversity. Understanding the genetics behind the evolution of the sauropsid epidermis, feathers, and other traits such as vision, speech, and flight has been accelerated with the explosion of avian genomes in 2014 (Zhang et al. 2014). In that same year, Strasser et al. (2014) identified and characterized the chicken epidermal differentiation complex, which is a genomic locus containing over eighty genes that encode for proteins comprising the epidermis and epidermal appendages. This as well as many other studies highlight how genomics is invigorating the study of sauropsid evolution. We invite colleagues who are investigating the genetics of sauropsid traits using bird and reptile comparative genomics and other genetic methods to contribute to this Special Edition of Genes.

Dr. Matthew Greenwold
Prof. Dr. Roger Sawyer
Guest Editors

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