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    Molecular evidence for dim-light vision in the last common ancestor of the vertebrates


    Pisani, Davide, Mohun, Samantha, Harris, Simon, McInerney, James and Wilkinson, Mark (2006) Molecular evidence for dim-light vision in the last common ancestor of the vertebrates. Current Biology, 16 (9). pp. 318-319.

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    Abstract

    Animal vision is mediated through pigments belonging exclusively to the opsin family. These are members of the G-protein-coupled receptor family that bind retinal [1]. Based on function and phylogenetic relationship, vertebrate visual opsins can be clustered in five groups: Rhod photoreceptors (Rh1), Rh1-like (Rh2), Short Wave Sensitive (SWS1), SWS1-like (SWS2), and Long (LWS) or Medium (MWS) Wave Length Sensitive (LWS/MWS). Rh1 is used for seeing under dim light conditions (scotopic vision), while the others permit full colour (photopic) vision in bright light 2, 3, 4 and 5. Opsins have diversified by a series of gene duplications, and the inferred order of these duplications indicates that photopic vision predated scotopic vision in vertebrates 2, 3, 4 and 5.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Molecular; dim-light ; vision; ancestor; vertebrates;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
    Item ID: 919
    Depositing User: Dr. James McInerney
    Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2008
    Journal or Publication Title: Current Biology
    Publisher: Elsevier
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/919
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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