Genital Evolution: Cock-A-Doodle-Don't
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[4] that describes a developmental mechanism Losing the penis in species with internal fertilization may seem paradoxical, responsible for the loss of intromittent but birds have managed to do it multiple times. A new study addresses one function in the avian penis. developmental mechanism responsible for penis reduction in birds, and opens Only three percent of avian species the door to further examination of this little understood evolutionary belonging to two main clades have phenomenon. retained the ancestral copulatory organ: the Paleognathes (e.g., Patricia L.R. Brennan the loss of an organ that seems crucial ostriches, kiwis and tinamous), and the to internal fertilization, and how exactly Galloanseridae (e.g., chickens, turkeys, Most amniotes with internal fertilization can a penis be lost? The answer to the megapodes, cracids and ducks) [1]. All have a penis, with the exception of first question is still largely unresolved other birds have completely lost the most birds [1]. What could have driven [2,3]. However, in this issue of Current penis. Avian penis evolution is complex Current Biology Vol 23 No 12 R524 elegantly demonstrating that Bmp4 expression is both necessary and sufficient to regress growth of the penis. Bmps are involved in the development of several other organs [12], so their role in genital reduction suggests the possibility that the loss of the intromittent function of the avian penis may have resulted from pleiotropic selection on another organ system, rather than selection for Figure 1. Avian penis diversity. reduced genitalia per se. If true, Avian penises can be intromittent (A; Rhynchotus, a tinamou), non-intromittent (B; Crypturel- this could explain the seemingly lus), or completely absent (C; Leipoa). paradoxical loss and regression of genitalia in birds. However, the five (see Figure 1Ain[4]). In addition to the regulation of genital growth and independent evolutionary reductions loss of the penis in the ancestor of patterning that are already known and losses of intromittent penis all Neoaves, birds have experienced in mammals would explain the function have occurred in avian multiple reductions of the penis’ differences in morphology of the groups that differ greatly in ecology, intromittent function (at least once in avian penis. morphology and behavior. While most tinamous and twice in galliformes) One possible developmental route tinamous have an intromittent penis and another complete penis loss (in a for the chicken penis to become (Figure 1A), those in the genus megapode) [5]. Herrera et al. provide a non-intromittent would be for it to Crypturellus have a non-intromittent developmental picture of how birds can simply stop growing. Expression of Shh one that is very different from the transition from a fully intromittent to a (a morphogenic protein) and Hoxa13 non-intromittent chicken penis non-intromittent penis by examining and Hoxd13 (transcription factors), is (Figure 1B) [5]. Crypturellus are small genital development of chicken and known to be involved in promoting ground-dwelling forest birds with duck embryos. The chicken penis is genital growth in mammals [9,10]; exclusive male incubation and parental non-intromittent; and although it swells however, their expression was no care, and mating systems ranging during copulation and may help to different between chicken and duck. In from monogamy to promiscuity [13]. direct the ejaculate inside the female addition, cell proliferation response Megapodes are large mound [1], it extends no further than the of genital tissues to these signals was incubators from Australasia; they also proximate portion of the vagina. In similar in both groups. An alternative have a range of mating systems, but in contrast, the duck penis is a fully mechanism is for differential all species males build and defend the intromittent copulatory organ with cell-death/apoptosis to occur in the mound [14]. Some megapodes have a many remarkable features: it can developing chicken penis. Bone non-intromittent penis, while in at achieve prodigious lengths [6], morphogenic proteins (Bmps) are least one species (Leipoa ocellata)it sometimes longer than the known to be involved in apoptosis in is completely lost (Figure 1C) [5]. male himself [7], spirals in a mice genitalia [11]. Herrera et al. report The Phasianoidea superfamily (e.g., counterclockwise direction [1], and that indeed a derived pattern of Bmp chicken, quail and turkey) have features a unique explosive eversion expression results in reduction of non-intromittent penises [1], variable and insemination mechanism [8].