Perfect Vision but Blind to Light

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 19:21 in Physics & Chemistry

Mammals have two types of light-sensitive detectors in the retina. Known as rod and cone cells, they are both necessary to picture their environment. However, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have found that eliminating a third sensor -- cells expressing a photopigment called melanopsin that measures the intensity of incoming light --makes the circadian clock blind to light, yet leaves normal vision intact.

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