Award details

Evolution of colour vision in mammals: cone types and opsin genes in a marsupial

Reference	S08653
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor James Bowmaker
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor David Hunt
Institution	University College London
Department	Institute of Ophthalmology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	206,571
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	02/03/1998
End date	02/03/2001
Duration	36 months

Abstract

We plan to examine the organisation of photoreceptors and the structure of visual pigments in a South American marsupial (Caluromys philander). We aim (i) to establish the number and proportions of the different cone types within the retina, their spectral properties and oil droplet characteristics, (ii) to obtain the cDNA sequences of the visual pigment opsins and from this to deduce the amino acid sequences, (iii) to confirm the identification of these opsin sequences by expressing them in vitro using a baculovirus system, and (iv) to establish the spatial arrangement of the different types of cone within the retina using in situ hybridisation. If opsin cDNAs are identified that do not correspond to those originally identified by microspectrophotometry, then we will carry out a further more detailed microspectrophotometic analysis of the retinal regions that showed in situ hybridisation.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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