Light provides a widely abundant energy source and valuable sensory cue in nature. Most
animals exposed to light have photoreceptor cells and in addition to eyes, there are many …

Across eumetazoans, the ability to perceive and respond to visual stimuli is largely mediated
by opsins, a family of proteins belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) …

The cryptochrome/photolyase (CRY/PL) family represents an ancient group of proteins
fulfilling two fundamental functions. While photolyases repair UV-induced DNA damages …

In animals, opsins and cryptochromes are major protein families that transduce light signals
when bound to light-absorbing chromophores. Opsins are involved in various light …

Animal behavior in space and time is structured by the perceived day/night cycle. However,
this is modified by the animals' own movement within its habitat, creating a realized diel light …

Light detection underlies a variety of animal behaviors, including those related to spatial
orientation, feeding, avoidance of predators, and reproduction. Ctenophores are likely the …

Background Opsins are the primary proteins responsible for light detection in animals.
Cnidarians (jellyfish, sea anemones, corals) have diverse visual systems that have evolved …

Understanding the molecular underpinnings of the evolution of complex (multi-part) systems
is a fundamental topic in biology. One unanswered question is to what the extent do similar …

Photosymbiotic cnidarians generally seek bright environments so that their symbionts can
be photosynthetically active. However, excess light may result in a breakdown of symbiosis …

Photoreception is essential to coral growth, reproduction, and stress responses. Thus far,
opsin-based photoreception and potential photoadaptation in Scleractinian corals remains …