Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
08:33
Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings
Published on: February 26, 2016
Arctic reindeer extend their visual range into the ultraviolet
Christopher Hogg1, Magella Neveu, Karl-Arne Stokkan
1Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|May 27, 2011
Summary
Arctic reindeer can see ultraviolet (UV) light, extending their vision into the short wavelengths of their snowy environment. This adaptation likely helps them navigate and find food, with evolved retinal protection against UV damage.
Area of Science:
- Animal Vision
- Arctic Ecology
- Photoreception
Background:
- The Arctic experiences extreme light variations and high UV levels due to snow and ice reflection.
- Understanding animal adaptations to Arctic conditions is crucial for ecological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if Arctic reindeer can perceive ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths.
- To determine the mechanisms behind their potential UV vision and UV protection.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings of the retina.
- Retinal RNA extraction and in vitro opsin expression analysis.
Main Results:
- Reindeer cornea and lens transmit UV light to the retina.
- Both rod and cone photoreceptors respond to UV light.
- UV vision is not mediated by a specific UV photoreceptor; retinal protection mechanisms are suggested.
Conclusions:
- Reindeer possess short-wavelength (UV) vision, beneficial for their Arctic environment.
- This vision aids in utilizing environmental information from snow and vegetation.
- Reindeer likely have evolved protective mechanisms against retinal UV damage.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:02Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview
Ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible or UV–Vis) spectroscopy is an analytical technique that investigates the interaction between matter and UV–Vis light within the electromagnetic spectrum. This method is widely used for its versatility, simplicity, and relatively quick data acquisition, making it valuable for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. When UV–Vis radiation passes through a material, molecules absorb light depending on the energy required for electronic transitions. As a result...
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
01:24Color Vision
Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.
01:09Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
When electromagnetic radiation passes through a material, atoms or molecules transition from a lower to a higher energy state by absorbing radiation corresponding to the energy difference between the two states. The absorption of infrared (IR) radiation causes transitions between vibrational energy levels in a molecule. Therefore, IR spectroscopy is a useful analytical tool for determining the molecular structure of molecules.
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
01:19IR Spectrum
When infrared (IR) radiation passes through a molecule, the bonds stretch or bend by absorbing the radiation. This absorption creates the molecule's absorption spectrum, which is the plot of its percentage transmittance versus wavenumber.
Transmittance is defined as the ratio of the radiant power passing through a sample to that from the radiation's source. Multiplying the transmittance by 100 gives the percent transmittance (%T), which varies between 100% (no absorption) and 0% (complete...
Transmittance is defined as the ratio of the radiant power passing through a sample to that from the radiation's source. Multiplying the transmittance by 100 gives the percent transmittance (%T), which varies between 100% (no absorption) and 0% (complete...