Although the dinosaurs perished catastrophically sixty-six million years ago, some of them went on to become modern birds. Growing “dinosaur legs” in chicken embryos is a ground-breaking achievement that has elevated reverse evolution to a new level, according to the journal Evolution.

Building on previous research that transformed chicken embryos to exhibit dinosaur-like traits, this study focused on unraveling the mysteries of dinosaurian leg development. In 2015, researchers successfully induced chickens to grow dinosaur-like feet, laying the foundation for this latest exploration into leg bones.

Modern birds, descendants of Coelurosauria dinosaurs, exhibit distinct leg bone structures. The team from the University of Chile delved into chicken genetics, particularly the role of the Indian Hedgehog (IHH) gene. By inhibiting IHH expression, they observed the prolonged growth of fibulae, reminiscent of dinosaur anatomy.