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Zoological Research
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
ISSN: 2095-8137
Vol. 33, No. 4, 2012, pp. 409-415
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Bioline Code: zr12065
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Zoological Research, Vol. 33, No. 4, 2012, pp. 409-415
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Progress on the degeneration mechanism of cave fishes’ eyes
GU, Xian; NING, Tiao & XIAO, Heng
Abstract
Attempts to understand the degeneration of the eyes in cave fish has largely been explained by either
various extents of gradual degeneration, ranging from partial to total loss, observed in various species or by acceleration
of loss caused by dark environments. However, neither the theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin
nor the neutral theory of molecular evolution formulated by Kimura Motoo adequately explains these phenomena. Recent
trends in utilizing multidisciplinary research, however, have yielded better results, helping reveal a more complex picture
of the mechanisms of degeneration. Here, we summarize the current progress of the research via morphology and
anatomy, development biology, animal behavior science and molecular genetics, and offer some perspectives on the
ongoing research into the development and degeneration of eyes in cave fish.
Keywords
Cave fishes; Eyes; Degeneration
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