Re: Birds have "thumb" genes like alligators: free pdf

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

>  David, not only are you using highly modified manus and digit reduction 
> here, including a functionally monodactylous manus,

Not a lot more modified than any bird wing.

> but you are also usin adult conditions.

Not for the alligator, where I used the paper's own photos of embryos.

(And incidentally, there is no polydactylous temnospondyl. Not even a 
prepollex has ever been reported, despite the common occurrence of ossified 
prepollices and -halluces in frogs and salamanders.)

> I am not going to take issue with Vargas et al. because my understanding 
> of the literature is based on what has been done on mice, this gator, and 
> birds. I have yet to see a comprehensive study on development in 
> comparison across "clades".

I don't think any has been done.

> Perhaps you can create a PloSone account and comment there?

It's not that common that PLoS ONE has an article that I find interesting, 
so it would almost amount to creating an account for a single comment.