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Published: January 16, 2011

Do some nocturnal Malaysian mammals see in color?

Stephanie Ware, Manager, Morphology Labs, SEM

GRAHAM HAVILAND

Junior Biology major at The University of Chicago

REU Mentors: Dr. Robert Martin (Curator, Anthropology) and Edna Davion (Graduate Student, Anthropology).

Symposium Presentation Title: Functionality of the Short Wave Sensitive Opsin in Euarchonta

Symposium Presentation Abstract: The short wave sensitive opsin gene (SWS1) codes for a photosensitive pigment found in the s-cone cells of the retina in the mammalian eye. While it was once hypothesized that nocturnal mammals lost opsin functionality due to the limited utility of color vision in low light environments, studies have shown that many have in fact retained functional opsin genes. We used PCR techniques to sequence the SWS1 gene in species of the three closely related orders that comprise the grandorder Euarchonta: Scandentia, Dermoptera, and Primates. These sequences were examined to determine the functionality of the gene in each taxon and, where possible, the wavelength to which the gene is tuned. Lastly, we generated a gene tree for SWS1 using six species of mouse lemur (Microcebus).

Original Project Description: Scientists generally accept that the ancestral mammal was nocturnal, and predicted that nocturnal mammals would have a retina containing only rod cells. Rod cells contain rhodopsin, a photo pigment that responds to low light levels. Surprisingly, studies determined that cone cells are present in the eyes of many nocturnal mammals. Scientists were further surprised to discover that many nocturnal mammals have two sets of photo pigment genes in addition to the rhodopsin found in rods. In other words many nocturnal mammals have the genetic capacity for dichromatic (or color) vision. Are the photo pigments "tuned" to the animal's unique light environment?” Using DNA from both diurnal and nocturnal mammals collected from Malaysia, we will examine and compare the photo pigment genes between taxa.

Research methods and techniques: REU Interns will receive training and participate in, DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing in the Museum's core genetics facility, the Pritzker Laboratory and the DNA Discovery Center.  In addition, they will participate in data collection, assembly and analysis.

Stephanie Ware
Manager, Morphology Labs

Stephanie started volunteering at the Field Museum in 1998, working with Curator John Bates in the Bird Division. In 1999, John Bates hired her as a research assistant. After that project finished in 2007, she went to work for Carl Dick in the Division of Insects helping him to complete his work on the museum's Bat Fly collection. She spent a great deal of time generating images for the Bat Fly portion of theDiptera Taxonomy Database. When Carl left for University of Kentucky in 2009, she continued her imaging work in the Insect Division. In the intervening years, she has imaged hundreds specimens, mostly types, from the rove beetle (Staphylinidae), ant and myriapoda collections.

Stephanie began working with the Chicago Peregrine Program in 2006.  Initially, she monitored the Metropolitan Correctional Center nest in downtown Chicago.  Over time, her duties have expanded to include other nests in the metro region, emphasizing the identification of nesting adults.  In March of 2007, Stephanie created a group called Midwest Peregrine Falcons on the photo sharing website Flickr with the goal of providing a place for photographers across the country to submit their photographs of peregrine sightings in the Midwestern United States. She also has many of her own peregrine photos on Flickr as well.

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