Signatures of Functional Constraint at Aye-aye Opsin Genes: The Potential of Adaptive Color Vision in a Nocturnal Primate

摘要: While color vision perception is thought to be adaptively correlated with foraging efficiency for diurnal mammals, those that forage exclusively at night may not need nor have the capacity it. Indeed, although basic condition mammals dichromacy, diverse nocturnal only monochromatic vision, resulting from functional loss of short-wavelength sensitive opsin gene. However, many primates maintain intact two genes and thus dichromatic capacity. The evolutionary significance this surprising observation has yet been elucidated. We used a molecular population genetics approach test hypotheses fully aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), highly unusual endangered Madagascar primate. No evidence gene degradation in either was observed any 8 individuals examined. Furthermore, levels nucleotide diversity sites were lower than 15 neutrally evolving intergenic regions (>25 kb total), which consistent history purifying selection on genes. most likely explanation these findings dichromacy advantageous aye-ayes despite their activity pattern. speculate able perceive while under moonlight conditions, suggest behavioral ecological comparisons among will help elucidate specific activities advantageous.