 Quote by Q_Goest
From Quantum Evolution (Johnjoe McFadden)
1. What biological feature of a bacteria allows it to 'see' or detect a given wavelength of light? What part of or feature of the cell detects light of a given wavelength?
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Spots of opsin chemical (what we have in our retinas) on or just under the cell surface, combined with some transpot mechanism (not nerves) to get the info that a set of molecules has tripped due to being exposed to light to the motive mechanism of the bacterium.
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2. Are these not single celled organisms?
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Yup. Sure stretches your preconceptions about "single celled" doesn't it?
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3. How common is this feature?
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Not at all uncommon. There are far more bacteria, and KINDS of bacteria, than there are animals big enough for humans to see. Just, literally, a whole world of life there. What they need to have in their vraious niches is what they have evolved to have. Evolution didn't stop when chordates branced off.
(Added later:) See this excellent discussion of the variety of eyes and other visual mechalisms in the animal kingdom.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2...ent_divers.php