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describe three differences between rods and cones. what do you think would happen to vision if you didn’t have any rods? what if you didn’t have any cones?

User Cato Yeung
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Final answer:

Rods are sensitive to low light and do not perceive color, whereas cones function in bright light and are essential for color vision and central detail. Without rods, a person would experience night blindness, and without cones, color vision and detailed sight would be lost.

Step-by-step explanation:

Differences Between Rods and Cones

There are three main differences between rods and cones, which are the two types of photoreceptors in the human retina:

  • Rods are highly sensitive to light and thus function well in low light conditions, but they do not contribute to color vision. Instead, they perceive shades of grey.
  • Cones require more light and are active under intense light conditions, providing the ability to perceive color.
  • There are approximately 120 million rods in the human retina, which contrasts with the fewer, about 6 million cones, which are concentrated mainly in the central part of the retina (the macula).

If you did not have any rods, your vision in low light or at night would be severely impacted, leading to a condition known as night blindness. Without cones, you would lose the ability to perceive color and have detailed central vision, which is crucial for tasks like reading and recognizing faces.

User Miguel Sesma
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