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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments

Published on: May 21, 2019

Colours of domestication.

Michael Cieslak¹, Monika Reissmann, Michael Hofreiter

¹Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Research Group of Evolutionary Genetics, Berlin, Germany.

Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society

|March 30, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Domesticated mammals show greater coat color variation due to artificial selection acting on coat-color genes. This review explores the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms behind this increased diversity in animal pigmentation.

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Animal Science
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Coat coloration in mammals is a widely studied trait, particularly in domesticated species.
Domesticated animals exhibit greater allelic variability in coat-color genes compared to wild ancestors, driven by artificial selection.
Over 300 genetic loci and 150 coat-color genes are known, but underlying genetic pathways remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the causes of increased coat color variation in domesticated animals.
To review the current understanding of molecular mechanisms influencing mammalian coat coloration.
To examine the timing and location of action for coat-color-associated genes.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on genetic studies of mammalian coat coloration.
Analysis of artificial selection pressures on coat-color phenotypes during domestication.
Synthesis of current knowledge on gene function and regulation in pigmentation pathways.

Main Results:

Artificial selection, starting from domestication, has led to increased allelic variability and diverse coat colors in domestic animals, often accepting pleiotropic effects.
Phenotypically similar coat colors can arise from different genetic bases across species or individuals.
Conserved genes can underlie similar coat colorations in different species.

Conclusions:

Understanding the genetic basis of coat color requires moving beyond phenotypic classification.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex genetic pathways and gene interactions governing mammalian pigmentation.
The review highlights the evolutionary and molecular factors contributing to the rich diversity of coat colors in domesticated mammals.