Haya Algrain
Differential melanopsin signaling in mammals with unique retinal architecture
Mammals have evolved a wide variety of retinal architectures ranging from rod monochromats to trichromats such as humans who have diverse color vision. One commonality between all of these animals is their usage of ipRGCs, the third photoreceptor in the retina. Interestingly, animals with fewer types of cones tend to have a higher percentage of these photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. I study the differences between these animals at the protein level by assessing their species-specific melanopsin signaling, the opsin receptor responsible for ipRGC phototransduction. I am also the first to examine and categorize the presence of melanopsin in a diverse repertoire of animals from squirrels to killer whales.