Vertebrate vision is accomplished through light-sensitive photopigments consisting of an
opsin protein bound to a chromophore. In dim light, vertebrates generally rely on a single …

Cetaceans have a long history of commitment to a fully aquatic lifestyle that extends back to
the Eocene. Extant species have evolved a spectacular array of adaptations in conjunction …

Visual opsin genes expressed in the rod and cone photoreceptor cells of the retina are core
components of the visual sensory system of vertebrates. Here, we provide an overview of the …

Despite their diversity, vertebrate retinae are specialized to maximize either photon catch or
visual acuity. Here, we describe a functional type that is optimized for neither purpose. In the …

Vertebrate ancestors appeared in a uniform, shallow water environment, but modern
species flourish in highly variable niches. A striking array of phenotypes exhibited by …

A variety of visual pigment repertoires present in fish species is believed due to the great
variation under the water of light environment. A complete set of visual opsin genes has …

Vertebrate photoreceptors are categorized into two broad classes, rods and cones,
responsible for dim-and bright-light vision, respectively. While many molecular features that …

For vision, insect and vertebrate eyes use rhabdomeric and ciliary photoreceptor cells,
respectively. These cells show distinct architecture and transduce the light signal by different …

Light has been exploited for information by organisms through the evolution of
photoreceptors and, ultimately, eyes in animals. Only a handful of eye types exist because …

Molecular investigation of the origin of colour vision has discovered five visual pigment
(opsin) genes, all of which are expressed in an agnathan (jawless) fish, the lamprey Geotria …