PubMed · 8664548
New perspectives on eye evolution.
Abstract
The highly complex eyes of vertebrates, insects and molluscs have long been considered to be of independent evolutionary origin. Recently, however, Pax-6, a highly conserved transcription factor, has been identified as a key regulator of eye development in both mammals and flies. Homologues of Pax-6 have also been identified in species from other phyla, including molluscs. The wide variety of eyes in the animal kingdom may, therefore, have evolved from a single ancestral photosensitive origin.
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G Halder, P Callaerts, W J Gehring. 1995. New perspectives on eye evolution.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-437x(95)80029-8
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