Scutes=>feathers or scales=>feathers ?

[Phillip Bigelow <bh162@scn.org>]

Listmembers,

A while back, there was some discussion on what the "precursor
structure" for feathers may have been.  An article on this can be read
at:
http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp/archie/scutes.htm

Scutes were suggested as a possible alternative to scales as the
starting condition.

Has the scute-origin of feathers idea now been thorougly debunked?  Did
Mary Schweitzer have anything to say on the matter at this year's
Dinofest?
                                    <pb>