Re: [Re: Origin of feathers]

[Dinogeorge <Dinogeorge@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-04-10 03:05:59 EDT, jjackson@interalpha.co.uk writes:

<< >
 >What is a feather. To put it generally a feather is simply a modified
 scale.
 
 I thought it had been decided it wasn't.  (Dinolist passim.) >>

As far as I know, feathers are an evolutionary novelty, not a modification of
an existing structure--unless, perhaps, the keratinous covering of early-
archosaur scutes was modified into feathers. Anyone know of any comparative
analyses of the chemical compositions of croc scute keratins with feather
keratins?