View Full Version : Of feathers of birds and reptile's scales


Buckaroo Banzai
09-28-07, 06:48 PM
Scientists are able to make bird skin develop feathers where it was supposed to grow scales (specially scutes), with a treatment with retinoic acid.

Crocodiles also have this same sort of scale, so I wonder what would happen with this treatment on crocodile's skin prior to the development of scales.

I'm not expecting a perfect feather of course, but I'm just curious to know what would result from there; perhaps there is "something" of a feather already there.

http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp/archie/scutes.htm

According to some theories, scutes may actually be derived from feathers (I personally find that unlikely) so the result could be somewhat surprising, more feather-like rather than some weird not-quite-scale-but-yet-far from-a-feather thing.

spuriousmonkey
09-29-07, 02:47 AM
velociraptor dinosaur had feathers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7004727.stm

2inquisitive
09-29-07, 02:55 AM
Danniel,
Crocodiles also have this same sort of scale, so I wonder what would happen with this treatment on crocodile's skin prior to the development of scales.
Well, like some people, it would have a Crocodile mouth and a Canary tail. :)