Dr. Mansour Aliabadian, a faculty member of the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, in collaboration with 44 international researchers, has successfully published an article in the prestigious journal Science. This study examined color variation in four species of light-winged songbirds from the genus wheatears, birds known for their distinctive black and white patterns on the body, throat, and neck feathers. The results of the study show that although the ASIP locus is the primary factor in black pigmentation, each part of the body is affected by different regulatory factors, leading to the emergence of significant color variation. In addition, extensive genetic crossing between different species has caused the transfer of the old white haplotype from the eastern black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) and the emergence of new mutations with similar patterns in other species. These findings demonstrate that even traits controlled by a single gene can be influenced by complex networks of regulatory factors, thereby playing a crucial role in the processes of evolution and biodiversity. Link to access the article on the Science magazine website: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado8005