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Related Concept Videos

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

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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,...
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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...
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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.
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The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle...
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Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
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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.
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Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings
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Photoreception and vision in the ultraviolet.

Thomas W Cronin1, Michael J Bok2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA cronin@umbc.edu.

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PubMed
Summary

Most animal species can detect ultraviolet (UV) light, using it for essential behaviors like navigation and communication. Research shows UV vision is widespread, playing crucial roles across diverse animal groups.

Keywords:
Chromatic aberrationDorsal rimOpsinUltravioletVisionVisual pigments

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Area of Science:

  • Vision Science
  • Animal Behavior
  • Photobiology

Background:

  • Ultraviolet (UV) light, with shorter wavelengths than visible light, is energetic and scatters easily.
  • Historically, UV sensitivity was recognized in few animals, but recent research reveals widespread UV detection across diverse species.
  • UV photoreceptors are crucial for various animal behaviors, from simple innate responses to complex visual processing.

Approach:

  • Reviewing the history of biological UV photosensitivity research.
  • Analyzing current research trends in animal UV vision.
  • Examining the molecular basis (opsins) and functional roles of UV visual pigments.

Key Points:

  • Most animal species, including arthropods and vertebrates, possess UV photoreceptors.
  • UV light is perceived as a distinct color, influencing object recognition and conspecific signaling.
  • UV vision aids in navigation, predator/prey detection, and mate assessment.

Conclusions:

  • UV vision is a significant sensory modality in the animal kingdom, far more common than previously thought.
  • Further comparative research is needed, especially beyond arthropods and chordates, to fully understand UV vision's evolutionary breadth.
  • UV photoreceptors are integral to a wide range of animal behaviors and ecological interactions.