Evidence is reviewed from a wide range of studies relevant to the evolution of vertebrate
photoreceptors and phototransduction, in order to permit the synthesis of a scenario for the …

As succinctly summarized by Wolf, 1 lack of vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) was recognized by
ancient Egyptians as causing a visual deficiency involving the retina and cornea that could …

This article proposes that biologically plausible theories of behavior can be constructed by
following a method of “phylogenetic refinement,” whereby they are progressively elaborated …

Reconstructing the genomes of bilaterian ancestors is central to our understanding of animal
evolution, where knowledge from ancient and/or slow-evolving bilaterian lineages is critical …

How consciousness appeared much earlier in evolutionary history than is commonly
assumed, and why all vertebrates and perhaps even some invertebrates are conscious …

Eye evolution is driven by the evolution of visually guided behavior. Accumulation of
gradually more demanding behaviors have continuously increased the performance …

The camera eye lens of vertebrates is a classic example of the re‐engineering of existing
protein components to fashion a new device. The bulk of the lens is formed from proteins …

The question of whether the ancestral bilaterian had a central nervous system (CNS) or a
diffuse ectodermal nervous system has been hotly debated. Considerable evidence …

Every aspect of vision, from the opsin proteins to the eyes and the ways that they serve
animal behavior, is incredibly diverse. It is only with an evolutionary perspective that this …

Vertebrates evolved in the Cambrian Period before 520 million years ago, but we do not
know when or how consciousness arose in the history of the vertebrate brain. Here we …