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Apr. 17, 2009
Night Vision and DNA
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| Why do some animals have much better night vision than others? We'll talk about new research tracing the root of improved night vision to the architecture of the DNA inside the photoreceptor rod cells of the animals' eyes. Writing in the journal Cell, researchers say that an unusual way of packing the DNA within the rod cell nuclei turns the nuclei themselves into into tiny light-collecting lenses. The structure prevents light from excessive scattering within the eyes, improving their light collecting efficiency. We'll find out more. |
Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Associate Senior Producer
Guests
-
Jochen Guck
Lecturer, Physics Department
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom
FEATURED READING
Brilliant Blunders
by Mario Livio
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