Int. J. Dev. Biol. 41: 835 - 842 (1997)

Vol 41, Issue 6

Special Issue: Developmental Biology in Russia

Pax-6, eyes absent, and Prox 1 in eye development

Published: 1 December 1997

S I Tomarev

Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-2730, USA. tomarev@fcrfv1.ncifcrf.gov

Abstract

Eyes in different systematic groups including arthropods, molluscs and vertebrates probably have a common evolutionary origin. As a consequence of this, related genes are used for regulation of the early steps of eye development in different organisms. In this review, I briefly summarize data on three gene families which might be essential for eye development across species: Pax-6/eyeless, Eya/eyes absent and Prox/prospero with emphasis on our contribution here. Mechanisms of eye formation and the generation of different types of eyes in the course of evolution are discussed.