Bacteria can see, say scientists, solving 300-year-old mystery
Lowly bacteria can "see" in much the same way as humans, research has shown.
Each bacterial cell acts as a microscopic eyeball or fibre optic filament, scientists said.
The discovery solves a mystery that has vexed scientists for more than 300 years - how do bugs that rely on sunshine to survive sense light?
The answer is they do it by turning their whole body into a camera-like lens that focuses light onto a particular spot. This triggers movement away from the focal point and towards the light source.
Lead researcher Professor Conrad Mullineaux, from Queen Mary University of London, said: "The idea that bacteria can see their world in basically the same way that we do is pretty exciting."
The team studied Synechocystis, a species of cyanobacteria - bugs that form the green slime on rocks and pebbles and which, like plants, photosynthesise to tap into energy from the sun.
An ability to sense light is crucial to the survival of these ancient microbes that evolved more than two billion years ago.
Previous studies have shown that they possess an ability to pinpoint the position of a light source and move towards it. The new research shows that they achieve this by using their...