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Science/Tech
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Title: Oxygen radical and photo protein give birds magnetic vision
Source: National Geographic
URL Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ ... 7/09-birds-magnetic-field.html
Published: Jul 09, 2009
Author: Mark Kaplan
Post Date: 2009-07-11 06:25:48 by Tatarewicz
Keywords: birds, magnetic fields, cryptochrome, superoxide
Views: 127
Comments: 2

Birds can "see" magnetic fields to navigate by having eyes with low levels of toxic superoxide in combination with the cryptochrome photo protein molecule.

Scientists in Germany and the University of Illinois have found a chemical reaction in which the cytochrome photoreceptor can be influenced by orientation with respect the magnetic field of the earth through "Zeeman and hyperfine" interactions to give birds the magnetic compass sense.

Crytochrome is also present in the human eye but our superoxides are even lower, enhancing longevity, whereas in birds, evolution has favored a bit of cellular damage in return for navigational benefits of magnetic vision, according to biophysicist Klaus Schulten of the Urbana Champaign campus. (Reported in Biophysical Journal/Science Direct)

POSTER COMMENT: I wonder if there's the odd human who has a magnetic orientation sense and what eye damage, if any has been encountered.

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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)

I wonder if there's the odd human who has a magnetic orientation sense

Superman comes to mind.

“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston

Sam Houston  posted on  2009-07-11   7:48:10 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

All the awesome superpower crap doesn't prevent my pug from catching and eating them.

There's no place better thanTurtle Island.

Turtle  posted on  2009-07-11   12:55:48 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

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