title: Recent evolution of uniform trichromacy in a New World monkey.
abstract: Until recently, New World primates were found to have a single M/L photopigment gene on the X-chromosome. This arrangement limits males to dichromatic, or monochromatic color vision. Only females who were heterozygous for the M/L gene were trichromatic. Recently, an exception has been discovered. Male howler monkeys appear to have more than one M/L pigment gene, and both genders are uniformly trichromatic. We characterized promoter regions corresponding to two M/L pigment genes in howlers. Comparison of DNA sequences with those of humans and three species of New World primate suggest a recent and independent acquisition of a second M/L gene locus in the howler.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kainz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002427:Cebidae / Q000235:genetics*; D003118:Color Perception / Q000235:genetics*; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments; D004247:DNA