BIOL 4500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Feather, Biological Pigment, Melanin
15 Feb 2018
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Document Summary
Colors in feathers come from two main sources: Pigmentation from biochromes: one major group is the melanin. They are granules produced in cells called melanocytes found in the skin and skin follicles. Enzymes and amino acids, especially tyrosine are involved in melanin synthesis. Two types of melanin: eumelanin is the most common type of melanin in birds. Most groups have eumelanin in the animal kingdom, including insects. Black eumalanin produce black pigment: pheomelanin not found in most animal groups, only in higher animals (mammals and birds). They involve the amino acid cysteine, incorporated in the production of pheomelanin. In the air, there is more turbulence, always particles/insects in the air, which cause feather abrasion. Carotenoids are plants colors and animals cannot produce them. Bird"s melanin comes from diet (insects, which eat plants). Carotenoids are plant pigments that absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis. Responsible for bright red, yellow and orange hues in many fruits and vegetable.
