Eye development and photoreceptor differentiation in the cephalopodDoryteuthis pealeii

摘要: Photoreception is a ubiquitous sensory ability found across the Metazoa, and photoreceptive organs are intricate diverse in their structure. Although morphology of compound eye Drosophila single-chambered vertebrates have elaborated independently, amount conservation within 'eye' gene regulatory network remains controversial, with few taxa studied. To better understand evolution organs, we established cephalopod Doryteuthis pealeii as lophotrochozoan model for development. Utilizing histological, transcriptomic molecular assays, characterize formation Through lineage tracing expression analyses, demonstrate that cells expressing Pax Six genes incorporate into lens, cornea iris, placode sole source retinal tissue. Functional assays Notch signaling required photoreceptor cell differentiation organization. This comparative approach places canon research traditional models perspective, highlighting complexity result both conserved convergent mechanisms.