Molecular evolution of color vision in vertebrates

Visual systems of vertebrates exhibit a striking level of diversity, reflecting their adaptive responses to various color environments. The photosensitive molecules, visual pigments, can be synthesized in vitro and their absorption spectra can be determined. Comparing the amino acid sequences and ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gene 2002-10, Vol.300 (1-2), p.69-78
Main Author: Yokoyama, Shozo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Color Perception - genetics
Color Perception - physiology
Evolution, Molecular
Humans
Mutation
Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate - physiology
Phylogeny
Retinal Pigments - genetics
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Summary:Visual systems of vertebrates exhibit a striking level of diversity, reflecting their adaptive responses to various color environments. The photosensitive molecules, visual pigments, can be synthesized in vitro and their absorption spectra can be determined. Comparing the amino acid sequences and absorption spectra of various visual pigments, we can identify amino acid changes that have modified the absorption spectra of visual pigments. These hypotheses can then be tested using the in vitro assay. This approach has been a powerful tool in elucidating not only the molecular bases of color vision, but the processes of adaptive evolution at the molecular level.
ISSN:0378-1119
DOI:10.1016/S0378-1119(02)00845-4