Two quotes from the article:<p>> The research … does not aim to engineer flocks of hybrid ‘dino-chickens’ or to resurrect dinosaurs, says Bhart-Anjan Bhullar<p>> But applying these insights to engineering ‘dino-chickens’ has proved difficult, [Jack Horner] says. “We’re having a little more trouble with the tail. There are so many components.” Other anatomical features could be altered by tinkering with development proteins, Horner adds. “It gives us a lot of opportunities to think about making new kinds of animals.”<p>I think this means that Bhart-Anjan Bhullar does not aim to engineer flocks of dino-chickens, but that Jack Horner does.
Sounds like the inhibition of a similar protein to the one that leads to Cyclopia in humans. (You can google the term, but I wouldn't recommend it.)
> The altered chicks still had a flap of skin over their would-be beaks, so the difference is not obvious, says Bhullar. “Looking at these animals externally, you would still think it’s a beak. But if you saw the skeleton, you’d just be very confused," he says. "I would not say we gave birds snouts.”<p>But hey, he's just a scientist, what does he know about generating clicks?<p>Cool research though<p>EDIT - Seems the title was edited to be less "Scientists create..." but I stand by my comment since it obviously got to the front page with that original title and people should be shamed for profiting from sensationalism
In related news, John Hammond, President and CEO of InGen, announced today the purchase of Isla Nublar, a tropical island in an isolated Central American location.