Mantis shrimp red-sensitive pigments act as reversible light switches
Key Takeaways
- Mantis shrimp possess approximately 30 visual pigments.
- New research analyzed these pigments individually for the first time.
- Certain pigments can detect red light and act as reversible light switches.
- The discovery has potential applications in optogenetics.
Researchers from ULiège and Humboldt University have uncovered new insights into the complex visual system of mantis shrimp. By analyzing their roughly 30 visual pigments individually, scientists discovered unique pigments that detect red light, a capability rare in the animal kingdom.
The findings, published in Science Advances, reveal that these pigments function as reversible light switches. This remarkable biological mechanism could inspire innovative applications in the field of optogenetics.
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