Chapter 12, Problem 49R

To determine

To Compare: Color blind mammal’s retina with human’s retina.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Human eyes have three types of cones. Each of these cones responds to a different range of wavelengths.

Light enters the human eye (healthy) through a lens and is focused on retina (made-up of two light detecting cells). So, when the light enters eye (human) and hits the retina cone cells (one type of cell in retina), it allows differentiation of various colors. The cone cells send nerve impulse to the human brain, which interprets the different combinations of wavelengths as different colors.

If a person sets of cones (one or more than this) are not functioning properly then that person would be unable to differentiate between various colors.

Most mammals (for example: dogs and cats) cannot see different types of colors because their retina of eye does not function properly.