@xodroont.bsky.social et al. explored the diversity and evolution of opsins using meta-omic data from the Tara Oceans and Tara Polar Circle expeditions, identifying opsins across the different metazoan groups.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf189
#genome #evolution #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf189
#genome #evolution #opsins
November 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
@xodroont.bsky.social et al. explored the diversity and evolution of opsins using meta-omic data from the Tara Oceans and Tara Polar Circle expeditions, identifying opsins across the different metazoan groups.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf189
#genome #evolution #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf189
#genome #evolution #opsins
Opsin-based photoreception in Crinoids https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.14.607903v1
Opsin-based photoreception in Crinoids https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.14.607903v1
Opsin-mediated light perception has been investigated in many marine invertebrates including some cl
www.biorxiv.org
August 19, 2024 at 11:14 AM
@saabalde.bsky.social & Jondelius characterize opsins and phototransduction genes in Xenacoelomorpha, identifying cnidarian-like and lineage-specific opsins.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf078
#genome #evolution #bilateria
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf078
#genome #evolution #bilateria
May 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
@saabalde.bsky.social & Jondelius characterize opsins and phototransduction genes in Xenacoelomorpha, identifying cnidarian-like and lineage-specific opsins.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf078
#genome #evolution #bilateria
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf078
#genome #evolution #bilateria
WAChRs are excitatory opsins sensitive to indoor lighting www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 18, 2025 at 3:47 AM
WAChRs are excitatory opsins sensitive to indoor lighting www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Really cool stuff! Engineered excitatory opsins responding to 15nW light
WAChRs are excitatory opsins sensitive to indoor lighting www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 18, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Really cool stuff! Engineered excitatory opsins responding to 15nW light
Lagman, Bergqvist & Kuraku analysed opsin gene evolution in jawless vertebrates, confirming tandem duplications of visual opsins before the vertebrate radiation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf231
#evobio #molbio #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf231
#evobio #molbio #opsins
Tandem Gene Clusters as Phylogenetic Anchors Reveal the Hidden History of Vertebrate Visual Opsins
Abstract. The expansion of the visual opsin gene family was a crucial event in the diversification of vertebrate vision in evolution. Additional expansions
doi.org
October 13, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Lagman, Bergqvist & Kuraku analysed opsin gene evolution in jawless vertebrates, confirming tandem duplications of visual opsins before the vertebrate radiation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf231
#evobio #molbio #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf231
#evobio #molbio #opsins
Another part of this is proven, not just theory: octopus skin has the same light sensing proteins (opsins) as their eyes, and can react to light even with zero input from the brain (research re. 2015.)
But skin only detects brightness, not color, so it doesn't fully solve the mystery on its own! 🧵⬇️
But skin only detects brightness, not color, so it doesn't fully solve the mystery on its own! 🧵⬇️
July 5, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Another part of this is proven, not just theory: octopus skin has the same light sensing proteins (opsins) as their eyes, and can react to light even with zero input from the brain (research re. 2015.)
But skin only detects brightness, not color, so it doesn't fully solve the mystery on its own! 🧵⬇️
But skin only detects brightness, not color, so it doesn't fully solve the mystery on its own! 🧵⬇️
My group at Science has been running a big campaign to engineer new channelrhodopsins.
Excited to share the first results from it today: a suite of highly sensitive new opsins.
We call them "WAChRs".
Everyday indoor office lighting is enough to activate them pretty strongly.
Excited to share the first results from it today: a suite of highly sensitive new opsins.
We call them "WAChRs".
Everyday indoor office lighting is enough to activate them pretty strongly.
September 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
My group at Science has been running a big campaign to engineer new channelrhodopsins.
Excited to share the first results from it today: a suite of highly sensitive new opsins.
We call them "WAChRs".
Everyday indoor office lighting is enough to activate them pretty strongly.
Excited to share the first results from it today: a suite of highly sensitive new opsins.
We call them "WAChRs".
Everyday indoor office lighting is enough to activate them pretty strongly.
Thrilled to share our new paper in Genome Biology & Evolution! 🌊
We discovered an ocean of opsins in marine zooplankton — unveiling how these animals evolved to sense light across the world’s seas.
🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
#MarineBiology #Evolution
We discovered an ocean of opsins in marine zooplankton — unveiling how these animals evolved to sense light across the world’s seas.
🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
#MarineBiology #Evolution
An Ocean of Opsins
Abstract. In this study, we explored the diversity and evolution of opsins using meta-omic data from the Tara Oceans and Tara Polar Circle expeditions, one
academic.oup.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Thrilled to share our new paper in Genome Biology & Evolution! 🌊
We discovered an ocean of opsins in marine zooplankton — unveiling how these animals evolved to sense light across the world’s seas.
🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
#MarineBiology #Evolution
We discovered an ocean of opsins in marine zooplankton — unveiling how these animals evolved to sense light across the world’s seas.
🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
#MarineBiology #Evolution
SEEING. WITHOUT. EYES.
Opsins are fucking everywhere, folks. And not just light/dark, but colors. All the way down the phylogenetic tree to the roots.
🧪
Opsins are fucking everywhere, folks. And not just light/dark, but colors. All the way down the phylogenetic tree to the roots.
🧪
Nbd just fishes that can see the color of their own skin from the inside 🧪🦑😱
Hogfish ‘See’ With Their Skin, Even When They’re Dead
The camouflaging talents of this fish are driven by a mysterious new type of cell, setting it apart from other animals that know how to blend in.
www.nytimes.com
August 23, 2023 at 12:57 AM
SEEING. WITHOUT. EYES.
Opsins are fucking everywhere, folks. And not just light/dark, but colors. All the way down the phylogenetic tree to the roots.
🧪
Opsins are fucking everywhere, folks. And not just light/dark, but colors. All the way down the phylogenetic tree to the roots.
🧪
Three studies determined structures and performed complementary modeling and biochemical experiments for human and nonhuman primate opsins, providing molecular insight into how visual pigment absorption and activation kinetics are tuned.
Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4amqrKh
Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4amqrKh
June 25, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Three studies determined structures and performed complementary modeling and biochemical experiments for human and nonhuman primate opsins, providing molecular insight into how visual pigment absorption and activation kinetics are tuned.
Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4amqrKh
Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4amqrKh
Reintroducing myself as I did this so well the last time (see below 😅)
I'm a biophysicist interested in opsins and their utilization as tools for #neuroscience. Mostly worked with inhibitory opsins, recently optoGPCRs for presynaptic inhibition. Here to get back the bird vibe!
go.bsky.app/87nsBZj
I'm a biophysicist interested in opsins and their utilization as tools for #neuroscience. Mostly worked with inhibitory opsins, recently optoGPCRs for presynaptic inhibition. Here to get back the bird vibe!
go.bsky.app/87nsBZj
Hello world!
November 10, 2024 at 8:52 PM
Reintroducing myself as I did this so well the last time (see below 😅)
I'm a biophysicist interested in opsins and their utilization as tools for #neuroscience. Mostly worked with inhibitory opsins, recently optoGPCRs for presynaptic inhibition. Here to get back the bird vibe!
go.bsky.app/87nsBZj
I'm a biophysicist interested in opsins and their utilization as tools for #neuroscience. Mostly worked with inhibitory opsins, recently optoGPCRs for presynaptic inhibition. Here to get back the bird vibe!
go.bsky.app/87nsBZj
The tuatara and many lizards possess a parietal eye, where non-visual opsins are expressed. Romero & @fsjsouza.bsky.social compared 60+ genomes to study the evolution of non-visual opsins, suggesting a functional role associated with the parietal eye.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf058
#genomes #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf058
#genomes #opsins
May 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The tuatara and many lizards possess a parietal eye, where non-visual opsins are expressed. Romero & @fsjsouza.bsky.social compared 60+ genomes to study the evolution of non-visual opsins, suggesting a functional role associated with the parietal eye.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf058
#genomes #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf058
#genomes #opsins
Dragonflies have a similar mechanism for seeing red as mammals
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Dragonfly red opsins share a common tuning mechanism with mammalian red opsins and further enhancement of near-infrared sensitivity - Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Some animals, such as primates and insects have color vision including sensitivity to red light (red vision). Red vision is basically achieved through opsins...
link.springer.com
April 16, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Dragonflies have a similar mechanism for seeing red as mammals
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The genome of Limulus polyphemus reveals 18 opsins, shedding light on chelicerate vision & opsin evolution. Phylogenetic analyses highlight key genomic events shaping its visual system, enhancing understanding of horseshoe crab photosensitivity & arthropod evolution #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...
March 21, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The genome of Limulus polyphemus reveals 18 opsins, shedding light on chelicerate vision & opsin evolution. Phylogenetic analyses highlight key genomic events shaping its visual system, enhancing understanding of horseshoe crab photosensitivity & arthropod evolution #2025MMM doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...
Policarpo et al. analyse 535 genomes to study opsin evolution across ray-finned fishes. Visual opsins are more prone to duplications and losses than nonvisual opsins; fish that rely on electroreception show a reduction in both opsin types.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf129
#genome #evolution #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf129
#genome #evolution #opsins
Evolution of the Nonvisual and Visual Opsin Gene Repertoire in Ray-Finned Fishes
Abstract. Photoreception—the detection of light for image formation (vision) as well as for nonimage-forming purposes (circadian regulation and DNA repair)
doi.org
July 28, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Policarpo et al. analyse 535 genomes to study opsin evolution across ray-finned fishes. Visual opsins are more prone to duplications and losses than nonvisual opsins; fish that rely on electroreception show a reduction in both opsin types.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf129
#genome #evolution #opsins
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf129
#genome #evolution #opsins
The authors included RRIDs in their in Cells paper! Thanks for making your methods matter! #STMpublishing #OpenScience #accelerateopenscience
miR-927 Regulates Photoreceptor Subtype Specification Through Yorkie and Sensory Opsins in Drosophila
Read the full paper: miR-927 Regulates Photoreceptor Subtype Specification Through Yorkie and Sensory Opsins in Drosophila
doi.org
September 27, 2026 at 7:00 AM
The authors included RRIDs in their in Cells paper! Thanks for making your methods matter! #STMpublishing #OpenScience #accelerateopenscience
Okay #ISER2026 @iser.bsky.social, representing the cone photoreceptors: blue, green and red opsins. Who wore it better? The @brightfocus.bsky.social WISER dinner cards or the UTSW Ophthalmology faculty?
August 25, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Okay #ISER2026 @iser.bsky.social, representing the cone photoreceptors: blue, green and red opsins. Who wore it better? The @brightfocus.bsky.social WISER dinner cards or the UTSW Ophthalmology faculty?
They said protein synthesis was hard to do by hand or something idk
Have you ever tried discovering new opsins
Have you ever tried discovering new opsins
August 21, 2026 at 3:46 PM
They said protein synthesis was hard to do by hand or something idk
Have you ever tried discovering new opsins
Have you ever tried discovering new opsins
Some of the cells in this fish's brain contain opsins, allowing them to respond to light. But... why? That story and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
January 7, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Some of the cells in this fish's brain contain opsins, allowing them to respond to light. But... why? That story and more of the best from @science.org and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
What is the role of non-ocular opsins? In this article, @stoilovamarina.bsky.social investigates the expression of opsins in Hydra to localize their expression at the single cell level
ICB Issue 3
Shedding Light on Patterns of Unconventional Expression of Opsin #Genes in Hydra vulgaris
Marina Stoilova, Natasha Picciani, @aidemm.bsky.social , Todd Oakley
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
#cnidarians #jellyfish #anemones #cell #hydroid #science
Shedding Light on Patterns of Unconventional Expression of Opsin #Genes in Hydra vulgaris
Marina Stoilova, Natasha Picciani, @aidemm.bsky.social , Todd Oakley
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
#cnidarians #jellyfish #anemones #cell #hydroid #science
October 3, 2025 at 1:12 PM
What is the role of non-ocular opsins? In this article, @stoilovamarina.bsky.social investigates the expression of opsins in Hydra to localize their expression at the single cell level
📢 NEW GENOME ALERT
In #G3journal, @aidemm.bsky.social and colleagues sequenced and assembled the genome of Bougainvillia—a jellyfish, not the plant!—with 28 eyes and identified 20 cnidarian opsins in the species.
Read more: buff.ly/MSyC8Aa
In #G3journal, @aidemm.bsky.social and colleagues sequenced and assembled the genome of Bougainvillia—a jellyfish, not the plant!—with 28 eyes and identified 20 cnidarian opsins in the species.
Read more: buff.ly/MSyC8Aa
July 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
📢 NEW GENOME ALERT
In #G3journal, @aidemm.bsky.social and colleagues sequenced and assembled the genome of Bougainvillia—a jellyfish, not the plant!—with 28 eyes and identified 20 cnidarian opsins in the species.
Read more: buff.ly/MSyC8Aa
In #G3journal, @aidemm.bsky.social and colleagues sequenced and assembled the genome of Bougainvillia—a jellyfish, not the plant!—with 28 eyes and identified 20 cnidarian opsins in the species.
Read more: buff.ly/MSyC8Aa
Opsins are phospholipid scramblases in all domains of life journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
November 28, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Opsins are phospholipid scramblases in all domains of life journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...