Dhaka, July 26 -- Scientists have proposed that the ancestors of modern vertebrates, including humans, may have passed through a "cyclops-like" stage nearly 600 million years ago, with a primitive central eye eventually contributing to the evolution of today's paired eyes.

A study by researchers from Lund University in Sweden and the University of Sussex suggests that an ancient ocean-dwelling creature with a single central eye may have played a crucial role in shaping the visual system of vertebrates. The researchers also believe that traces of this ancient eye structure may still exist in the modern brain as the pineal gland, which helps regulate sleep.

"The results are a surprise. They turn our understanding of the evolution of the e...