Avian eggshell coloration predicts shell-matrix protoporphyrin content

Thompson, Charles F.; Hodges, Kara E; Mortimer, Nathan T.; Vrailas-Mortimer, Alysia D.; Sakaluk, Scott K.; Hauber, Márk E.

doi:10.1139/cjz-2021-0134

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…For birds, brown, white, pink and blue are the most common eggshell colors. Protoporphyrin is an antioxidant [ 6 ] and a direct precursor of heme, which is involved in the color deposition in pink, brown or yellow eggshells [ 7 ]. Biliverdin has antioxidant activity and is a by-product of hemoglobin decomposition, while biliverdin IX, and biliverdin IX zinc chelate are associated with blue and green-blue eggshell colors [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Network of Circular RNA and MicroRNA Sequencing Provides Insights into Pigment Deposition of Changshun Blue Eggshell Chickens

Chen,

Zhao,

Chen

et al. 2024

Genes

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Eggshell color plays important biological roles and attracts the attention of both egg retailers and researchers. However, whether non-coding RNAs are involved in pigment deposition among different eggshell colors remains unknown. In this study, RNA sequencing was used to analyse the uterine gland transcriptome (CircRNA and miRNA) of Changshun chicken blue-shell hens producing four different eggshell color eggs including dark blue PK(DB) and light blue (LB), dark brown and greenish (between blue and pink, DP) and pink (p). We found that miR-192-x, targeting SLC16a7, was expressed in DB, DP, and LB groups compared with the PK group, which indicates that miR-192-x may play a role in the blue eggshell color. KEGG and GO analyses showed that the “metabolic pathways” with targeted genes such BLVRA and HMOX1 were detected in dark and light blue color eggshell chickens, which confirms the different ratios of biliverdin and HO-1 involved in the deposition of blue color. As annotated by connectivity analysis, RASGRF1 and RASGRF2, belonging to the RASGRF family, are involved in the Ras signaling pathway, which plays an important role in cell growth, differentiation, metastasis and apoptosis. Our findings enrich the database of circRNA, miRNAs and genes for chicken uterine tissue, which will be useful in accelerating molecular selection for blue eggshell color layers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Network of Circular RNA and MicroRNA Sequencing Provides Insights into Pigment Deposition of Changshun Blue Eggshell Chickens

Chen,

Zhao,

Chen

et al. 2024

Genes

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“…Brown-headed cowbirds are generalist brood parasites, impacting over 200 species of passerine host species in North America, and they lay eggs varying from white to light blue with variable dark brown maculation (Peer and Sealy, 2004). By contrast, eastern bluebirds typically produce light-blue immaculate eggshells, although their eggs can occasionally be white (Siefferman et al, 2006), and house wrens generally produce eggs so finely speckled that they appear reddish-brown over their entire surface, but the maculation of these eggs can be quite variable (Hodges et al, 2020;Thompson et al, 2022). The eastern bluebird rejects cowbird eggs at a rate of 65%, which is the highest of any cavity-nesting cowbird host (Peer et al, 2006;Woodward and Woodward, 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decision rules for egg-color-based rejection by two cavity-nesting hosts of the brown-headed cowbird

Giovanni

Villa

Stanback

et al. 2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Hosts of obligate avian brood parasites often evolve defense mechanisms to avoid rearing unrelated young. One common defense is egg rejection for which hosts often rely on eggshell color. Most research has assumed that hosts respond to perceived color differences between their own eggs and parasite eggs regardless of the particular color; however, recent experiments have found that many hosts respond more strongly to brown foreign eggs than to equally dissimilar blue eggs. Yet, none of these prior studies tested a brown-egg laying species and, with only one exception, all were conducted in open nests where light levels are considered sufficient for effective color-based egg discrimination. Here, we explore how two cavity-nesting hosts of the parasitic brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), the blue egg-laying eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the brown egg-laying house wren (Troglodytes aedon), respond to experimental eggs painted six distinct colors ranging from blue to brown. Both hosts’ rejection responses were best predicted by perceived differences in color between the model egg and their own eggs. Specifically, we found that house wrens preferentially rejected eggs bluer than their own eggs. However, although we found that bluebirds relied on perceived differences in color for their egg rejection decisions, further tests are needed to determine whether they preferentially rejected brown eggs or simply responded to absolute perceived differences in color. These findings demonstrate that these cavity-nesting birds treat perceived color differences in distinct ways, which has important implications on the coevolutionary arms races and the interpretation of avian-perceived color differences.

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Fly-CURE, a multi-institutional CURE using Drosophila , increases students' confidence, sense of belonging, and persistence in research

Merkle,

Devergne,

Kelly

et al. 2023

J Microbiol Biol Educ.

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The Fly-CURE is a genetics-focused multi-institutional Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experiences within a course. Through the Fly-CURE, undergraduate students at diverse types of higher education institutions across the United States map and characterize novel mutants isolated from a genetic screen in Drosophila melanogaster . To date, more than 20 mutants have been studied across 20 institutions, and our scientific data have led to eleven publications with more than 500 students as authors. To evaluate the impact of the Fly-CURE experience on students, we developed and validated assessment tools to identify students’ perceived research self-efficacy, sense of belonging in science, and intent to pursue additional research opportunities. Our data, collected over three academic years and involving 14 institutions and 480 students, show gains in these metrics after completion of the Fly-CURE across all student subgroups analyzed, including comparisons of gender, academic status, racial and ethnic groups, and parents’ educational background. Importantly, our data also show differential gains in the areas of self-efficacy and interest in seeking additional research opportunities between Fly-CURE students with and without prior research experience, illustrating the positive impact of research exposure (dosage) on student outcomes. Altogether, our data indicate that the Fly-CURE experience has a significant impact on students’ efficacy with research methods, sense of belonging to the scientific research community, and interest in pursuing additional research experiences.

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Avian eggshell coloration predicts shell-matrix protoporphyrin content

Cited by 3 publications

References 49 publications

A Network of Circular RNA and MicroRNA Sequencing Provides Insights into Pigment Deposition of Changshun Blue Eggshell Chickens

A Network of Circular RNA and MicroRNA Sequencing Provides Insights into Pigment Deposition of Changshun Blue Eggshell Chickens

Decision rules for egg-color-based rejection by two cavity-nesting hosts of the brown-headed cowbird

Fly-CURE, a multi-institutional CURE using Drosophila , increases students' confidence, sense of belonging, and persistence in research

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