Evidence for multifactorial processes underlying phenotypic variation in bat visual opsins

摘要: Studies of opsin genes offer insights into the evolutionary history and molecular basis vertebrate color vision, but most assume intact open reading frames equate to functional phenotypes. Despite known variation in repertoires associated visual phenotypes, genetic such patterns has not been examined at each step central dogma. By comparing sequences, gene expression, protein localization across a hyperdiverse group mammals, noctilionoid bats, we find evidence that independent losses S-opsin arose through disruptions different stages synthesis, while maintenance relates frugivory. Discordance between DNA, RNA, reveals loss short-wave sensitivity some lineages resulted from transcriptional post-transcriptional changes addition degradation frames. These mismatches imply phenotypes cannot reliably be predicted genotypes alone, connect ecology multiple mechanisms behind vertebrates.