Publication Date:
2007-03-24
Description:
Changes in the genes encoding sensory receptor proteins are an essential step in the evolution of new sensory capacities. In primates, trichromatic color vision evolved after changes in X chromosome-linked photopigment genes. To model this process, we studied knock-in mice that expressed a human long-wavelength-sensitive (L) cone photopigment in the form of an X-linked polymorphism. Behavioral tests demonstrated that heterozygous females, whose retinas contained both native mouse pigments and human L pigment, showed enhanced long-wavelength sensitivity and acquired a new capacity for chromatic discrimination. An inherent plasticity in the mammalian visual system thus permits the emergence of a new dimension of sensory experience based solely on gene-driven changes in receptor organization.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Jacobs, Gerald H -- Williams, Gary A -- Cahill, Hugh -- Nathans, Jeremy -- EY002052/EY/NEI NIH HHS/ -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 2007 Mar 23;315(5819):1723-5.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. jacobs@psych.ucsb.edu〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17379811" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉
Keywords:
Animals
;
*Biological Evolution
;
Color Perception/*genetics
;
Discrimination (Psychology)
;
Electroretinography
;
Female
;
Genetic Engineering
;
Heterozygote
;
Humans
;
Light
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Neuronal Plasticity
;
Primates/genetics/physiology
;
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/*physiology
;
Retinal Pigments/*genetics/*physiology
;
X Chromosome/genetics
;
X Chromosome Inactivation
Print ISSN:
0036-8075
Electronic ISSN:
1095-9203
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Computer Science
,
Medicine
,
Natural Sciences in General
,
Physics
