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The evolution of eyes

R D Fernald1

  • 1Neuroscience Program, Stanford University, CA 94305-2130, USA.

Brain, Behavior and Evolution
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The evolution of complex eyes in different animal groups showcases both convergent and homologous features at the molecular level. This suggests that shared molecular building blocks do not equate to homologous structures in evolutionary biology.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Eyes are crucial sensory organs, with their evolution attracting significant scientific interest.
  • Paired eyes in vertebrates, arthropods, and mollusks are often cited as examples of evolutionary convergence due to differing macroscopic structures.
  • Recent discoveries reveal molecular similarities, challenging the purely convergent evolution model.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary relationship of eyes across diverse phyla.
  • To reconcile macroscopic differences with molecular similarities in eye development.
  • To explore the implications of molecular homology in non-homologous structures.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of macroscopic eye structures across phyla.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of DNA sequence homology for opsin, a key light-absorbing protein.
  • Investigation of homologous genes, such as Pax-6, involved in ocular development.

    • Main Results:

    • Macroscopic eye structures in different phyla arise from distinct tissues and show convergent solutions for light collection.
    • Significant DNA sequence homology exists for opsin across diverse phyla.
    • The gene Pax-6 plays a coordinated role in ocular development in different phyla, indicating molecular homology.

    Conclusions:

    • Eyes in diverse phyla are not homologous organs but exhibit molecular homology.
    • The presence of homologous molecules (like opsin and Pax-6) in non-homologous structures highlights the complexity of evolutionary convergence.
    • Molecular homology does not predict homology at the organ or organismic level, emphasizing that molecules are components, not the entire structure.