Case Studies

Humans: Evolution of colour vision in primates

In this activity students will explore the molecular basis and evolutionary origin of trichromatic (red/green/blue) colour vision in humans and our close evolutionary relatives using nucleic acid sequences of opsins, key proteins involved in the process.

This casts light on the basis of colour-blindness (Daltonism) and highlights convergent evolution in New World monkeys.

Case study written by: Jarosław Bryk, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön.