Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41982182›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology and evolution2026

Degeneration and adaptive evolution of digits in ratite birds.

Wen Kang, Günter Wagner, Qi Zhou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular biology and evolution, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Wen KangCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1024-7782
Günter WagnerDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-3097-002X
Qi ZhouCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7419-2047

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities 226-2024-00055National Key Research and Development Program of China 2023YFA1800500National Key Research and Development Program of China 2024YFA1802500National Natural Science Foundation of China 32170415Zhejiang University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The amniote digits have undergone recurrent modifications, with the diversified molecular mechanisms more studied among mammals than reptiles. Here we focus on the emu wings and ostrich feet, both of which experienced species-specific digit changes driven respectively by secondary flight loss and adaptation to running. By comparing their digit transcriptomes to those of chicken and alligator, we identified different gene networks in skeleton/muscle development responsible for the degenerated digits in archosaur ancestors and emu, but those in epidermal development for the load-bearing digit of ostrich. These results provide new clues for developmental programs of different cell types between different digits, on which natural selection can convergently operate.

Indexed as

Biological EvolutionStruthioniformesAdaptation, PhysiologicalAnimalsChickensSelection, GeneticTranscriptomeWings, Animaldigit developmentdigit evolutionratites

Identifiers

PMID41982182
PMCPMC13135079

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.