Genetics and Vision
June 10th, 2005 | No Comments »I propose that the primary role of genetic mechanisms in determining the vision process (color blindness, the belief that blue sensitive cones exist, etc.) is through alteration of the dimensions (I think primarily diameter) of receptor inner segments. It is this dimension that sets the spacing of the light detecting outer segments (”generic nanowires”). With light refraction within the eye remaining the same, any alteration in the inner segment diameter of either rod or cone receptors will move the geometrically determined mid-band (”Land”) point on the retina from it’s ~7 degree angle and affect, as Land demonstrated, color vision. Also, any change in such a diameter will affect the limits of the overall visual band - this should be measurable.
