The origins of species-specific facial morphology: the proof is in the pigeon

One of the principal objectives of developmental research is to understand morphogenesis and in doing so, gain insights into the genetic basis of variation observed throughout the Animal Kingdom. In this review we take an approach, first popularized by Darwin, to understanding how diversity is created by using the domesticated pigeon as a model organism. Nearly 3000 years of selective breeding has produced an astonishing array of feather patterns, behaviors, skeletal shapes, and body sizes. Cumulatively, these features make the pigeon an exemplar of morphological variation. Our research interests center around exploiting the unique properties of domesticated pigeons to gain critical insights into the molecular and cellular basis for craniofacial variation.