An archangel pigeon, a breed with a small crest at the back of its head. WIKIMEDIA, LUIS MIGUEL BUGALLO SANCHEZ
Species: Rock pigeon, Columbia livia
Genome size: ~1.3 billion base pairs
Pomeranian pouters, English trumpeters, carriers, fantails, and short-faced tumblers: pigeon breeds are remarkably diverse. This fact was not lost on Charles Darwin, who saw the breeding of these birds for certain traits as a strong analogy for natural selection in the wild. Now, an international team of scientists has sequenced the genomes of the rock pigeon (Columbia livia) and 38 other species to reveal their genealogy, as well as the genetic basis of one of their most striking traits.
First, the researchers found that all major breed groups originated in the Middle East. The team also found that feral pigeons, such as those that clutter the streets of New York and St. Mark’s Square ...
