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Date – 21st Jun 2021

Researchers from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) have found that even without eyes, planarian flatworms can sense light, with the assistance of an eye-independent system (extraocular) lining the periphery of the worm's body.

A University of Hyderabad release said on June 21, 2021

• “Prior research has shown that planarians can survive decapitation (removal of the head) and retain the ability to move away from the light source when exposed to low doses of ultraviolet light”
• "In a breakthrough discovery, a search team led by Dr Akash Gulyani from Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences at UoH showed that an eye-independent system(extraocular)lining the periphery of the worms body allows even a headless flatworm to move like an intact worm with incredible coordination,"
• “The researchers found that the worm body is dotted with an entire array of very unique light sensing cells that are patterned everywhere in the worm, especially at its periphery”
• However, the eye-independent system only responds to a limited range of ultraviolet at 365 to 395 nm (nanometer), whereas the flatworm eyes can detect a broad wavelength of light (~365 to 625 nm)
• The researchers think that extraocular light sensing ability of headless worms may help tailpieces escape light, and avoid predators.
• This is again a rare example in nature where an intact adult animal uses an eye independent system for locomotion/escape, despite possessing a sensitive visual system

The authors said "Overall, these findings offer a singular and stunning insight into coexistence, development and evolution of independent light-sensing systems during a single organism,"

According to the Hyderabad  release “The researchers wish to explore use of such sensitive natural light sensing proteins for helping patients with vision disabilities to 'sense' light and to regulate inner working of cells/tissues with light (optogenetics)”

The researchers also show that the system helps intact animals respond to sudden light exposure even when the animals have gone to a sleep-like state, helping them avoid predators and danger. The work is published within the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA).

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