Study ID's Fish Vision Evolutionary Switch

October 21, 2009

Release from: United Press International

ATLANTA - U.S. researchers say they have discovered the first fish known to have switched from ultraviolet vision to violet vision, or the ability to see blue light.

The Emory University scientists say their discovery also marks the first example of an animal deleting a molecule to change its visual spectrum.

Their finding concerning scabbardfish links molecular evolution to functional changes and possible environmental factors.

"This multidimensional approach strengthens the case for the importance of adaptive evolution," Professor of genetics Shozo Yokoyama, who led the study, said. "Building on this framework will take studies of natural selection to the next level."

The research team that included post-doctoral students Takashi Tada and Ahmet Altun reported their achievement in the Oct. 13 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.