Abstract: Melanin was distributed widely in microorganism, plant and animal and played significantly physiological roles. This article reviewed research progress in animal melanin synthesis and pigmentation. Furthermore, the effect of molecular characteristic and mutation of tyrosinase related protein 1 gene (TYRP1) on animal pigmentation and skin color was summarized. All results will provide the molecular basis on black traits of black-boned sheep and silky fowl.

Key words: TYRP1 gene; melanin; black-boned sheep