Color Blindness

The disease is caused by abnormal photopigments which are color-detecting molecules located in cone-shaped cells within the retina, called cone cells.

- Affected individuals have trouble differentiating between different shades of red, yellow, and green
- It is a sex linked recessive on the X chromosome

Chances of offspring getting the disease with a female carrier:
- 1 in 2 chance that a son will have the disease
- 1 in 2 chance that a daughter will be a carrier of the disease
- No chance that a daughter will have the disease

Chances of offspring getting the disease with two carriers:

- 1 in 4 chance of having a child with the disease

- 1 in 2 chance of having a child who is a carrier

- 1 in 4 chance of having a child who neither has the disease nor is a carrier

There are three types of color blindness: Red-Green Color Blindness, Blue-Yellow Color Blindness, and Complete Color Blindness

Red-Green: The most common out of all the color blindness categories. There is a loss or limit of the red cone (protan) or green cone (deutran) photopigments. 

Blue-Yellow: This category is more rare than the red-yellow color blindness. People who have the disease lack or have a limited blue cone (tritan) photopigment. 

Complete Color Blindness: People who fall in this category can not see colors at all. Not seeing colors can also have an affect on their vision. 

As of now there is no cure for color blindness but there are some ways that it can be alternated. Some companies such as Enchroma and Colormax  have made glasses that can make people who have color blindness see colors the way normal vision people see them. 

Reflection:

Many people are affected by the disease. Up to 2 million people can be diagnosed with the genetic disease every year. Since there is no cure, they are permanently stuck with their lack of seeing colors correctly. I didn't realize how serious color blindness could be. I know two men who have the disease and doing small things such as picking out clothes can be difficult, but for people with normal vision we can easily choose a shirt and a pair of pants that match without a problem. One of the men that I know once tried to buy a car which he thought was a normal and average family color, but when he got home his wife was shocked to see a purple color in the driveway. What I can take away is that it might seem harmful to people who have normal vision, but it can definitely be difficult for those who suffer from color blindness. 

Citations: 

"You’ll Be Amazed How People With Color Blindness See The World (10+ Pics)." Bored Panda. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2017.

           "Facts About Color Blindness." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human               Services, n.d. Web. 10 May 2017.