photopigment

Invertebrates have rhabodomeric cells that use a special version of the photopigment called r-opsin, and activate cells by a particular pathway called a phospholipase-C cascade.

PZ Myers - The Deepest Links (on Evolution) William Harryman 2009

The ability to see the world as humans do, he says, ‘requires an additional sensor—or photopigment—and the nervous system being able to compare the signals.’

Three Color Blind Mice: See How They See : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits 2007

For example, he would claim that a photopigment without any linkers or down stream signalling molecules would be useless, and unselectable by natural selection.

Blind Mice vs Behe; the Evolution of Vision - The Panda's Thumb 2006

In order for humans to see infrared, the spectral sensitivity of some human photopigment would have to be changed.

Mind Hacks: August 2005 Archives 2005

Vision scientists knew that retinal, the derivative of vitamin A, was part of every photopigment molecule and that various forms of vitamin A existed.

Mind Hacks: changing diet might allow you to see infrared 2005

In order for humans to see infrared, the spectral sensitivity of some human photopigment would have to be changed.

Mind Hacks: changing diet might allow you to see infrared 2005

Vision scientists knew that retinal, the derivative of vitamin A, was part of every photopigment molecule and that various forms of vitamin A existed.

Mind Hacks: August 2005 Archives 2005

These 'nonvisual' light responses have been suggested to be predominantly mediated by the novel photopigment melanopsin Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/glucagons/secretin family and plays pleiotropic roles as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and neurotrophic factor

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Chihiro Kawaguchi et al. 2010

The photopigment melanopsin has been suggested to act as a dominant photoreceptor in nonvisual photoreception including resetting of the circadian clock (entrainment), direct tuning or masking of vital status (activity, sleep/wake cycles, etc.), and the pupillary light reflex (PLR).

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Chihiro Kawaguchi et al. 2010

Japan The photopigment melanopsin has been suggested to act as a dominant photoreceptor in nonvisual photoreception including resetting of the circadian clock (entrainment), direct tuning or masking of vital status (activity, sleep/wake cycles, etc.), and the pupillary light reflex

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Chihiro Kawaguchi et al. 2010