Dog-like carnivores, some primate species
may have a magnetic compass similar to that of birds
Date: February 25, 2016
Source: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
The magnetic sense in migratory birds has
been studied in considerable detail: unlike a boy scout's compass, which shows
the compass direction, a bird's compass recognizes the inclination of the
magnetic field lines relative to Earth's surface. Now scientists report that
dog-like carnivores and some primate species may have a magnetic compass
similar to that of birds.
Cryptochromes are light-sensitive
molecules that exist in bacteria, plants and animals. In animals, they are
involved in the control of the body's circadian rhythms. In birds,
cryptochromes are also involved in the light-dependent magnetic orientation
response based on Earth's magnetic field: cryptochrome 1a is located in
photoreceptors in birds' eyes and is activated by the magnetic field. Now
researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt have also detected cryptochrome 1 in
photoreceptors in several mammalian species. Therefore, it is possible that
these animals also have a magnetic sense that is linked to their visual system.
The perception of Earth's magnetic field
is used by many animal species for orientation and navigation. A magnetic sense
is found in some insects, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, whereas humans do
not appear to be able to perceive Earth's magnetic field.
The magnetic sense in migratory birds has
been studied in considerable detail: unlike a boy scout's compass, which shows
the compass direction, a bird's compass recognizes the inclination of the
magnetic field lines relative to Earth's surface. Surprisingly, this
inclination compass in birds is linked to the visual system as the magnetic
field activates the light-sensitive molecule cryptochrome 1a in the retina of
the bird's eye. Cryptochrome 1a is located in the blue- to UV-sensitive cone
photoreceptors and only reacts to the magnetic field if it is simultaneously
excited by light.
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