Genetic mechanisms involved in the evolution of the cephalopod camera eye revealed by transcriptomic and developmental studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coleoid cephalopods (squids and octopuses) have evolved a camera eye, the structure of which is very similar to that found in vertebrates and which is considered a classic example of convergent evolution. Other molluscs, however, possess mirror, pin-hole, or compound eyes, all of which differ from the camera eye in the degree of complexity of the eye structures and neurons participating in the visual circuit. Therefore, genes expressed in the cephalopod eye after divergence from the common molluscan ancestor could be involved in eye evolution through association with the acquisition of new structural components. To clarify the genetic mechanisms that contributed to the evolution of the cephalopod camera eye, we applied comprehensive transcriptomic analysis and conducted

SUBMITTER: Yoshida MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3141435 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature