Evolution of the eye transcriptome under constant darkness in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish.

ABSTRACT: In adaptating to perpetual darkness, cave species gradually lose eyes and body pigmentation and evolve alternatives for exploring their environments. Although troglodyte features evolved independently many times in cavefish, we do not yet know whether independent evolution of these characters involves common genetic mechanisms. Surface-dwelling and many cave-dwelling species make the freshwater teleost genus Sinocyclocheilus an excellent model for studying the evolution of adaptations to life in constant darkness. We compared the mature retinal histology of surface and cave species in Sinocyclocheilus and found that adult cavefish showed a reduction in the number and length of photoreceptor cells. To identify genes and genetic pathways that evolved in constant darkness, we used RNA-seq to

SUBMITTER: Meng F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3684860 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature