- Kelly Finan
- The Gene that Makes Female Birds Drab
- Color
In some finch species, BCO2, a gene that encodes a carotenoid-destroying enzyme, is expressed in many female finch feathers but not in many male feathers. This generates dramatic sexual dichromatism that makes males dazzle while females look relatively drab. In common canaries, which are not sexually dichromatic, both males and females have little BCO2 expression in their feathers. Writing by Rachael Moeller Gorman. Published in The Scientist, September 2020.
- Collections: Ornithology
About the Artist: Kelly Finan x
"My business focuses on using stable and radiogenic geochemistry, not something common to many of the people that I work with. Kelly's ability to construct clear, well-designed and highly aesthetic images has helped me convey complex geochemical reactions and geochemical patterns with ease."
-Dr. Ryan Mathur, geologist
"Kelly was excellent to work with; she is organized, quick to respond to email communications, produces work that transmits information (crucial for scientific illustration) and work that is often beautiful."
-Dr. Paula Martin, water scientist
"[I] have been more than pleased with the quality of Kelly's work, and with her ability to capture the essence of new creatures in a new landscape."
-Dr. Bill McLarney, ichthyologist
Visit my website for more illustrations, graphic design, and information about me!
www.kellyfinan.com