1Cademy - Color blindness

Learn Before

Concept

Color "blindness"

Color 'blindness' is more accurately described as a color vision deficiency. The most prevalent type is red-green color blindness, an X-linked inherited condition caused by the absence of cones that process medium-wavelength light. Because the responsible gene is on the X chromosome, and men have only one X chromosome, this deficiency is far more common in men than in women. Women possess two X chromosomes, which typically provides a functional gene if the other is mutated. This condition impairs the ability to distinguish between certain colors, especially reds and greens.