Project Title:

Characterising the Structure, Expression, and Regulation of CYP2J19, A Gene Involved in Pigmentation of Avian Integument

Project Summary:

Red coloration is widespread throughout birds, and appears to have evolved independently multiple times. CYP2J19, a gene involved in producing red ketocarotenoid pigment in the retina, has been implicated in multiple independent evolutions of red coloration, but it is not clear how it has been co-opted or why this has occurred so many times.