The document discusses the evolution of color vision in primates. It presents an overview of trichromatic vision, which is based on having three types of cone cells (S, M, L) that absorb different wavelengths of light. While many African primates are trichromatic, some New World primates are dichromatic with only two cone types. The document then reviews past models of how trichromatic vision evolved, and presents a new model incorporating recent genetic evidence suggesting the trait arose from allelic variation in a common ancestor rather than independent convergence in the two groups. It also describes an experiment showing mice can perceive new wavelengths after being genetically engineered with a human color receptor gene.
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The document discusses the evolution of color vision in primates. It presents an overview of trichromatic vision, which is based on having three types of cone cells (S, M, L) that absorb different wavelengths of light. While many African primates are trichromatic, some New World primates are dichromatic with only two cone types. The document then reviews past models of how trichromatic vision evolved, and presents a new model incorporating recent genetic evidence suggesting the trait arose from allelic variation in a common ancestor rather than independent convergence in the two groups. It also describes an experiment showing mice can perceive new wavelengths after being genetically engineered with a human color receptor gene.
The document discusses the evolution of color vision in primates. It presents an overview of trichromatic vision, which is based on having three types of cone cells (S, M, L) that absorb different wavelengths of light. While many African primates are trichromatic, some New World primates are dichromatic with only two cone types. The document then reviews past models of how trichromatic vision evolved, and presents a new model incorporating recent genetic evidence suggesting the trait arose from allelic variation in a common ancestor rather than independent convergence in the two groups. It also describes an experiment showing mice can perceive new wavelengths after being genetically engineered with a human color receptor gene.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The document discusses the evolution of color vision in primates. It presents an overview of trichromatic vision, which is based on having three types of cone cells (S, M, L) that absorb different wavelengths of light. While many African primates are trichromatic, some New World primates are dichromatic with only two cone types. The document then reviews past models of how trichromatic vision evolved, and presents a new model incorporating recent genetic evidence suggesting the trait arose from allelic variation in a common ancestor rather than independent convergence in the two groups. It also describes an experiment showing mice can perceive new wavelengths after being genetically engineered with a human color receptor gene.
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The Evolution of Primate Color
Vision.
Jacobs, Gerald H. Nathans, Jeremy Scientific American: April 2009 An Overview of Eye Site • Color vision in humans (and African primates is based on the property of trichromacy) • Trichromaticism: possessing 3 types of color receptors (cone cells) in the eye. • Not all animals are trichromatic, in fact, many primates in Central and South America are dichromatic (only possess 2 types of cone cells) • These trichromatic cells are identified as S (short) M (medium) and L (long) and are all different types of cone cells (length refers to the wavelength of light that these cells absorb). The Old Model • There are differences between African primates (humans, gorillas, etc) and South/Central American primates, due to population isolation. • Each group separately converged on the same trait in different ways (non related) • The reason that trichromacy is so common in African primates is because it was so advantageous that it all trichromatic individuals survived and reproduced compared to non trichromatic individuals • The gene for the Longer wavelength is located on the X chromosome, a duplication took place along with a mutation, thus creating a L and M pigments. (recombination event) • Reasons against the Old Model There seems to be two genetic mechanisms for trichromatic vision in primates, one in Old World primates and one in New World Primates. • New World primates carry both M and L pigment genes on each X chromosome have trichromatic vision. • Trichomacy only occurs in a subset of New World females. • No New World males are trichomatic and 1/3 of females are not trichromatic, however 2/3 of females are trichromatic. • Comparison of both M gene amino acid sequences reveal that they share one set of 3 amino acids. • It is highly unlikely that both groups converged independently on identical sets of amino acids, to shift sensitivity to longer wavelength pigments. The New Model • Allelic variation in today’s New World primates was most likely the primitive condition (similar to the last common ancestor of both New and Old world primates. • Various pigment alleles most likely arose by multiple rounds of mutation in the mammalian longer wavelength pigment gene some time before Old and New World primate lineages became isolated. • After a rare error in recombination occurred in a female of the Old World lineage. Cone Cells • Cone cells are the “color” cells of the eyes, in trichromaticity animals possess three types of cone cells • When trichromaticity evolved was new “hardwiring” needed, or were primates simply able to use the new cells? The Experiment • Scientists genetically engineered a mouse X chromosome so that it encoded a human L chromosome instead of a mouse M pigment • The mice then were tested to see what ranges of light they could see Results • Mice could see new wavelengths. • In addition, a mosaic model must be what is present in the eye of females, allowing females to see multiple wavelengths through X inactivation. • The mammalian brain has the innate ability to use information from different types of visual input. Where to go from here • How is the short-wavelength pigment controlled? • Some females possess 4 types of visual pigments, can they see a broader range of light?
