title: Emergence of novel color vision in mice engineered to express a human cone photopigment.
abstract: Changes in the genes encoding sensory receptor proteins are an essential step in the evolution of new sensory capacities. In primates, trichromatic color vision evolved after changes in X chromosome-linked photopigment genes. To model this process, we studied knock-in mice that expressed a human long-wavelength-sensitive (L) cone photopigment in the form of an X-linked polymorphism. Behavioral tests demonstrated that heterozygous females, whose retinas contained both native mouse pigments and human L pigment, showed enhanced long-wavelength sensitivity and acquired a new capacity for chromatic discrimination. An inherent plasticity in the mammalian visual system thus permits the emergence of a new dimension of sensory experience based solely on gene-driven changes in receptor organization.
authors: Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. jacobs@psych.ucsb.edu
authors: Gerald H
authors: GH
authors: Jacobs
authors: Gary A
authors: GA
authors: Williams
authors: Hugh
authors: H
authors: Cahill
authors: Jeremy
authors: J
authors: Nathans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003118:Color Perception / Q000235:genetics*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011323:Primates / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments