Sciencebiotech
Mantis shrimp red-sensitive pigments act as reversible light switches
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.