Garcia 1

Zaret Garcia
Biology K-208
Fergson / Baker
12.11.19

Eye Evolution

The majority of are planet depends on the sun's energy. Which for us is no surprise

that most are organisms has evolved the ability to detect and respond to light. We see

this in plants turn their leaves towards the sun, also single-celled algae or other

microbes swim towards or away from the light. There’s is 96% of animal species that

have eyes, the first animal eyes detect light like the day and night cycles. They were also

able to detect behavior and movement. A predator who can see its prey from far away

like an eagle or a prey animal that can see the shadow of a predator approaching, have a

survival advantage to those that can’t.

The eye is all about light, light reflects off an object and if that object is in your field

vision it would enter the eye. The first thing it touches is a thin veil of tears on the

surfaces on the eye. Behind all this is the eye window called cornea its functions helps

focus the light. After that light passes through the pupil,it changes sizes to control all the

light that gets in. Next is the lens that helps adjust the shape whether the light is

reflecting off something close or far away. The light is now on the center of the eyeball

which is covered in clear jelly known as vitreous. The final step is retina is at the back

part of your eye and this works like a screen that projects a vision.

Scientist have evolved an eye that incorporates 3 functions; they are light detection,

shading and connection to motor structures. All these functions are carried out by one
cell called single-celled euglena. These have light sensitive spot, pigment granules for

shading the direction of light and motor cilia for movement in response to light but they

haven’t considered this a real eye yet. The basic structure of an actual eye just ahs 2

cells, a photoreceptor that detects light and pigment cell that provides shading. The

photoreceptor connects to ciliated cells that engage to the movement of an object in

response to light. An eye with more photoreceptor is better because it can detect

variations in light intensity across any surfaces. The eye in the shape of cup could be so

much more powerful because it would have the capacity to sense both the direction of

light and the movement of the near objects.

The reason humans and animals have to eyes is because e​ach eye sees the world from a

different angle, creating slightly different pictures. The brain combines these two

pictures into a single, three-dimensional image. This is called binocular vision. Seeing in

3-D helps you to judge the distance and size of objects much more easily.

The cells in the retina that are sensitive to light are called rods and cones. Rods work

best in dim light, but cannot see color. Cones can detect colors in bright light. There are

three types of cones and each type is sensitive to one of the primary light colors: red,

blue or green. By combining this information from all three we are able to see all the

colors of the rainbow.

Eye Evolution, learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/senses/eye/.

Lhg-Admin.“How the Human Eye Works: Cornea Layers/Role: Light Rays.”

NKCF.org,NKCF.org,26Mar.2019,www.nkcf.org/about-keratoconus/how-the-human-eye-wo

rks/.