Color Differences Between The Sexes Driven By Simple Molecular Mechanisms

Males and females of many bird species can look very different despite having nearly identical genes — how do they do this?

by GrrlScientist for Forbes | Twitter | Newsletter

NOTE: This piece was a Forbes Editor’s pick.

Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), are one of many examples of dichromatism in birds. Male (left) and female (right). (Credit: Geoffrey Hill / doi:10.1126/science.aba0803)