Mason K A, Mason S K
Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045, USA.
Pigment Cell Res. 2000;13 Suppl 8:150-5. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0749.13.s8.27.x.
The following is a summary of the current state of comparative biology with respect to pigmentation. Recent results from molecular analyses of genes involved in pigmentation in lower vertebrates are compared with similar data from mouse and man. Particular emphasis has been placed on evolutionary and developmental aspects of pigmentation. Recent advances in molecular biology of lower vertebrate pigmentation allow for the comparison of orthologous molecules across a wider range of species than ever before; some of these results are summarized and used to highlight the current state of pigmentation from a comparative perspective. A more cellular, organismal approach is also explored to highlight some important lessons from comparative biology. Lastly, large-scale evolutionary questions are put into a framework that highlights both the differences and similarities between mammals/birds and other vertebrates. It is the opinion of the authors that important, long-standing questions in these areas can now be addressed in ways that have not been possible before. Thus, the discipline is at an exciting crossroads where developmental and evolutionary data can be used to create a unified view of pigment cells and pigments across many species.
以下是关于色素沉着的比较生物学现状总结。将低等脊椎动物中与色素沉着相关基因的分子分析最新结果与来自小鼠和人类的类似数据进行了比较。特别强调了色素沉着的进化和发育方面。低等脊椎动物色素沉着分子生物学的最新进展使得能够比以往更广泛地比较不同物种间的直系同源分子；其中一些结果进行了总结，并用于从比较的角度突出色素沉着的现状。还探索了一种更具细胞和生物体层面的方法，以突出比较生物学的一些重要经验教训。最后，将大规模进化问题置于一个框架中，该框架突出了哺乳动物/鸟类与其他脊椎动物之间的差异和相似之处。作者认为，这些领域中重要的、长期存在的问题现在可以以前所未有的方式得到解决。因此，该学科正处于一个令人兴奋的十字路口，发育和进化数据可用于形成对许多物种色素细胞和色素的统一认识。
