Richard O. Prum

The paper investigates the evolutionary history of delayed plumage maturation in manakins using phylogenetic analysis and developmental schedules of plumage patches, revealing multiple origins and sociosexual functions of prolonged maturation.

The paper characterizes feather cell types in developing chicken embryos using single-cell RNA sequencing and identifies a new cell type, while analyzing their evolutionary relationships.

The paper investigates the evolutionary origin of feathers and avian scales by comparing transcriptomes from chicken, emu, and alligator skin appendages, revealing shared gene expression patterns between feathers and scutate scales.