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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Light/dark Transition Test for Mice
Published on: November 13, 2006
THE GEOTROPIC REACTION OF RODLESS MICE IN LIGHT AND IN DARKNESS
1Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Abstract:
"Black-short ears-kinky tail-rodless" mice, controlled by "pink eyed-dilute-brown" mice, were tested on an inclined plane in order to determine if they are photically sensitive, and, if so, to get a quantitative expression for their visual receptivity. Rodless and control animals were tested in the dark to obtain an expression for normal geotropic orientation. Light was then introduced to modify these reactions if possible. Under light, the controls failed to orient, whereas the rodless gave reactions almost identical with those in the dark. This test has failed in this experiment to suggest sight in the rodless mouse.
