Review summarizes the evolution and developmental biology of cranial appendages in ruminants, suggesting competing hypotheses for their origin.
Key Points
The research aims to explore the evolution and development of cranial appendages in ruminants, focusing on their structural diversity and molecular basis.
Review of current knowledge from comparative anatomy, molecular studies, and the fossil record.
Integration of findings from genomics, transcriptomics, and single-cell analyses.
Comparison of developmental pathways and regulatory genes across different types of appendages.
Identified shared developmental pathways, including cranial neural crest-derived progenitors and regulatory genes such as RXFP2 and SOX9.
Highlighted major anatomical differences among appendage types: horns, antlers, pronghorns, and ossicones.
Concluded that the origin of these appendages remains unresolved, requiring further studies.