The cephalopod charges have served as experimental models for human myopia (short-sightedness). At least, that's what Phil is hoping. Vision research to date has focused on our vertebrate cousins, such as rats and mice, whereas squid have not yet seen the light of short-sighted research.
Despite their underwater dwellings, squid have remarkably similar eyes to humans, making them suspected candidates for vision research. Squid eyes evolved separately to ours, through a process known as 'convergent evolution'. This could make them very interesting indeed...
Today, Phil gave his squid a new life that he could not provide for them. A short car-ride to Kelly Tarlton's Sealife Aquarium, and the squid were transferred to the largest tank they had ever seen with their beautiful myopic eyes. A sense of sadness lay in the air. Despite all the early mornings and late night fishing sessions, rain, hail, or shine, Phil has obviously developed a certain fondness for his cephalopod friends. He peers into their tank and they bob up and down in the water, waving goodbye with their tentacles.
But a lot still lies ahead for Phil, who must now dive into his data and see exactly what his squid did for him. Are squid a good model for human myopia?
No comments:
Post a Comment
If your comment doesn't show up immediately, it may require moderation. Please allow up to 24 hours for this to occur.