Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals
Understanding the molecular underpinnings of the evolution of complex (multi-part) systems is a fundamental topic in biology. One unanswered question is to what the extent do similar or different genes and regulatory interactions underlie similar complex systems across species? Animal eyes and photo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/24/3966 |
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| author | Oliver Vöcking Aide Macias-Muñoz Stuart J. Jaeger Todd H. Oakley |
| author_facet | Oliver Vöcking Aide Macias-Muñoz Stuart J. Jaeger Todd H. Oakley |
| author_sort | Oliver Vöcking |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the molecular underpinnings of the evolution of complex (multi-part) systems is a fundamental topic in biology. One unanswered question is to what the extent do similar or different genes and regulatory interactions underlie similar complex systems across species? Animal eyes and phototransduction (light detection) are outstanding systems to investigate this question because some of the genetics underlying these traits are well characterized in model organisms. However, comparative studies using non-model organisms are also necessary to understand the diversity and evolution of these traits. Here, we compare the characteristics of photoreceptor cells, opsins, and phototransduction cascades in diverse taxa, with a particular focus on cnidarians. In contrast to the common theme of deep homology, whereby similar traits develop mainly using homologous genes, comparisons of visual systems, especially in non-model organisms, are beginning to highlight a “deep diversity” of underlying components, illustrating how variation can underlie similar complex systems across taxa. Although using candidate genes from model organisms across diversity was a good starting point to understand the evolution of complex systems, unbiased genome-wide comparisons and subsequent functional validation will be necessary to uncover unique genes that comprise the complex systems of non-model groups to better understand biodiversity and its evolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:13:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-295294f4cf9a4710ad468e8d6ba587fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:13:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-295294f4cf9a4710ad468e8d6ba587fb2023-11-24T13:53:32ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-12-011124396610.3390/cells11243966Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across AnimalsOliver Vöcking0Aide Macias-Muñoz1Stuart J. Jaeger2Todd H. Oakley3Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USADepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USADepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USADepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USAUnderstanding the molecular underpinnings of the evolution of complex (multi-part) systems is a fundamental topic in biology. One unanswered question is to what the extent do similar or different genes and regulatory interactions underlie similar complex systems across species? Animal eyes and phototransduction (light detection) are outstanding systems to investigate this question because some of the genetics underlying these traits are well characterized in model organisms. However, comparative studies using non-model organisms are also necessary to understand the diversity and evolution of these traits. Here, we compare the characteristics of photoreceptor cells, opsins, and phototransduction cascades in diverse taxa, with a particular focus on cnidarians. In contrast to the common theme of deep homology, whereby similar traits develop mainly using homologous genes, comparisons of visual systems, especially in non-model organisms, are beginning to highlight a “deep diversity” of underlying components, illustrating how variation can underlie similar complex systems across taxa. Although using candidate genes from model organisms across diversity was a good starting point to understand the evolution of complex systems, unbiased genome-wide comparisons and subsequent functional validation will be necessary to uncover unique genes that comprise the complex systems of non-model groups to better understand biodiversity and its evolution.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/24/3966eye evolutionopsinphotoreceptorphototransductionvisual cycle |
| spellingShingle | Oliver Vöcking Aide Macias-Muñoz Stuart J. Jaeger Todd H. Oakley Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals Cells eye evolution opsin photoreceptor phototransduction visual cycle |
| title | Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals |
| title_full | Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals |
| title_fullStr | Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals |
| title_short | Deep Diversity: Extensive Variation in the Components of Complex Visual Systems across Animals |
| title_sort | deep diversity extensive variation in the components of complex visual systems across animals |
| topic | eye evolution opsin photoreceptor phototransduction visual cycle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/24/3966 |
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