title: New perspectives on eye evolution.
abstract: The highly complex eyes of vertebrates, insects and molluscs have long been considered to be of independent evolutionary origin. Recently, however, Pax-6, a highly conserved transcription factor, has been identified as a key regulator of eye development in both mammals and flies. Homologues of Pax-6 have also been identified in species from other phyla, including molluscs. The wide variety of eyes in the animal kingdom may, therefore, have evolved from a single ancestral photosensitive origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Callaerts
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gehring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta; D008322:Mammals; D008954:Models, Biological; D008974:Mollusca; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014714:Vertebrates; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors