Mice engineered to produce a human protein in their eyes develop dramatically enhanced colour vision, a new study reveals.

The finding supports the idea that full colour vision offered an immediate advantage to our primate ancestors when it evolved about 40 million years ago, the researchers say. . .

Blush awareness

Humans, monkeys and apes have tri-chromatic vision that involves receptor proteins for short, medium and long wavelengths of light.

Scientists have hypothesised that this enhanced colour perception – which includes greater sensitivity to reddish hues – offered an evolutionary advantage by enabling our ancestors to better distinguish ripe fruit and avoid poisonous berries, and even to become more attuned to emotions. . .


There was a recent article that suggested long head hair on humans evolved through grooming behaviour, because longer hair on women gave men more stuff to do and so spend more time hanging out and paying attention.

Ergo all of civilization proceeds from the beauty parlor.

I'd suggest that improved color vision evolved at the same time, along with our general absence of body hair, because it allowed people to see fevers or injuries on the body, while fooling with the hair.