Light reception: discovering the clock-eye in mammals.
Light is the most reliable environmental signal for adjusting biological clocks to the 24-hour day. Mammals receive this signal exclusively through the eyes, but not just via rods and cones. New evidence has been uncovered for a novel photoreceptor that may be responsible for more than just adjusting the clock.
Roenneberg
Till
T
Institute for Medical Psychology, University of Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336, Munich, Germany. till.roenneberg@imp.med.uni-muenchen.de
Merrow
Martha
M
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003116:Color; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008322:Mammals; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D017440:Photoperiod; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014785:Vision, Ocular
D017299:Rod Opsins