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A Cambrian origin for vertebrate rods.

Sabrina Asteriti1, Sten Grillner2, Lorenzo Cangiano1

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The evolution of dim-light vision in vertebrates occurred early, before jawed vertebrates evolved. Lamprey photoreceptors possess key rod features, suggesting rods originated before the divergence of jawless and jawed vertebrates.

Keywords:
evolutionlampreyneurosciencephotoreceptorsretinarods

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Vision science

Background:

  • Vertebrates developed dim-light vision with the evolution of rod photoreceptors from ancestral cones.
  • The exact timing of rod photoreceptor evolution remains unknown, predating the last common ancestor of jawed vertebrates (~420 million years ago).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origin of rod photoreceptors and dim-light vision in vertebrates.
  • To constrain the timing of rod photoreceptor evolution using lampreys as a model organism.

Main Methods:

  • Patch-clamp electrophysiology was used to record inner segment photovoltages of Lampetra fluviatilis retinal photoreceptors.
  • Suction electrodes were employed to record outer segment photocurrents in lamprey photoreceptors.

Main Results:

  • Lamprey photoreceptors exhibit key functional characteristics homologous to jawed vertebrate rods.
  • Efficient amplification of single-photon effects and signal flow from rods into cones were observed in lamprey photoreceptors.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that rod photoreceptors did not evolve convergently in jawless and jawed vertebrates.
  • The results indicate an early origin of rods, likely driven by selective pressures for dim-light vision in Cambrian ecosystems.