Why Do We Blink?
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself why we blink?
As you ponder this seemingly simple question, you might find yourself blinking more frequently. Or, perhaps, now that you're aware of its frequency, you might even try to hold back from conducting this behavior -- if this is you, keep blinking!
Blinking is critical to eye health!
In a collaborative effort of scientists from different universities, backgrounds, and expertise, we aimed to answer these same question...how and why do we blink? And how did this behavior originate in tetrapods, the lineage of vertebrates that invaded land and ultimately led to humans.
To learn more about the evolution of blinking, check out our study published in PNAS, watch the Youtube video, or even read the comic that helps tell this story! (see below)
This study was a joint effort between Seton Hill University, Georgia Institute of Technology (Sponberg Lab and Bhamla Lab, University of Chicago (Shubin Lab), and Pennsylvania State University (Stewart Lab).
As you ponder this seemingly simple question, you might find yourself blinking more frequently. Or, perhaps, now that you're aware of its frequency, you might even try to hold back from conducting this behavior -- if this is you, keep blinking!
Blinking is critical to eye health!
In a collaborative effort of scientists from different universities, backgrounds, and expertise, we aimed to answer these same question...how and why do we blink? And how did this behavior originate in tetrapods, the lineage of vertebrates that invaded land and ultimately led to humans.
To learn more about the evolution of blinking, check out our study published in PNAS, watch the Youtube video, or even read the comic that helps tell this story! (see below)
This study was a joint effort between Seton Hill University, Georgia Institute of Technology (Sponberg Lab and Bhamla Lab, University of Chicago (Shubin Lab), and Pennsylvania State University (Stewart Lab).
Resources to Learn More About Blinking
The "Magnificent Mudskipper Eye-Volution" comic was created by the incredible Jordan Collver.