Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs and have since developed many specialized traits, including feathers. While feathers originally evolved for insulation and display, they later allowed for flight. However, feathers also facilitate the spread of diseases like influenza. Understanding feather evolution can help prevent disease transmission. If vaccines were developed for birds, it could decrease viral infections and possibly eliminate diseases by removing birds' role as natural reservoirs.

1. Introduction: The Aves class has always been an interesting portion of the evolutionary Significance: Although not an initial adaptive feature, feathers have
eventually evolved to give birds flight. This allows birds to travel great distances,
tree of vertebrates. When looking at their anatomy and physiology they appear to have
but this also creates a problem. The issue is that now they can also facilitate the
characteristics of various classes. Birds are bipedal, endothermic, egg-laying, feathered, spread of diseases. Birds are reservoirs for certain diseases such as Influenza and
vertebrates. They may appear to look like mammals to some, but they have reptilian West Nile Virus. As a host, it allows the survival, amplification, and spread of
characteristics. Birds’ feet have a keratinized outer layer (stratum corneum) that is homologous to these viruses. This is important to know in order to stop the spread of diseases. If
the scales of reptiles. Birds also reproduce like reptiles by laying eggs. Aves also have many vaccines could be created for birds, there could be a drastic decrease in these
characteristics that differ from most reptiles. Reptiles are ectothermic while birds are viral infections. It could also possibly lead to the elimination natural reservoir,
endothermic. Birds also have developed a four chambered heart and hollow bones to aid them in effectively killing the disease. Scales, however, do not facilitate the spread of
flight while reptiles have a three chambered heart and dense solid bones. As a result of these diseases. Infecting an animal with scales is much harder because it provides more
various characteristics, it can be difficult for some to pinpoint where in history birds have made protection and does not carry germs as easily as feathers. The evolution of scales
their evolutionary ascent. Understanding when and why in history certain traits have developed, from theropods to feathers of the modern day bird has had positive impacts on
the species but are a growing concern for our community.
may help us better understand why certain adaptations such as feathers result in greater survival.
The discoveries of certain fossils, like the Archeopteryx, have helped evolutionary scientists and
paleontologists to get a better idea of where to place them. Certain diseases can also be spread
Future Predictions As feathers developed they have become
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increasingly specialized in their form and function. Each Feather in a birds
from feathers, so knowing more information on feather evolution and morphology can help us
plumage has a specific use. Some feathers are used for insulation such as
better understand how to prevent diseases such as influenza and West Nile Virus.
the penguins use of small feathers and down to keep warm in the cold
temperatures of their environment (Du et al 2007). Some birds grow
Evolutionary History: feathers that aid in long migratory flights like Migratory Blackcaps (De La
Hera et al 2007). Other feathers are specialized in color, size and even
make up. The color of the feathers can be for attracting a mate such as
with the peacock tail feathers (Roslyn and Robert 2011), Or to help
camouflage an individual (Stoddard et al 2011). We believe that as time
continues and evolution shapes the uses of feathers that they will
become even more specialized. Alcids, a small water bird, have developed
feathers that when we increase insulation so that the bird stays warmer
when it is in the water (Ortega-Jimez et al 2010). Other possible
adaptations include increased water resistance, increased variation in
color and patterns, larger primary feathers to allowing for increased glide
ability, and decrease in down size to allow for more smaller feathers to
help insulate.
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