SOX10 regulates multiple genes to direct eumelanin versus pheomelanin production in domestic rock pigeon

The domesticated rock pigeon ( Columba livia ) has been bred for hundreds of years to display an immense variety of ornamental attributes such as feather color and color patterns. Color is influenced by multiple loci that impact the type and amount of melanin deposited on the feathers. Pigeons homozygous for the “recessive red” mutation, which causes downregulation of Sox10, display brilliant red feathers instead of blue/black feathers. Sox10...