Final answer:
The cone cells are responsible for day (in light) and color vision, which differentiates them from rod cells that detect shades of gray in low light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cone cells are photoreceptors in the retina responsible for day (in light) and color vision. Unlike the rod cells, which are more sensitive to light and provide vision in low-light conditions but do not distinguish colors, cone cells respond to higher light levels and are essential for perceiving color. Humans have three types of cone cells, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light corresponding to the colors red, green, and blue. There are approximately 120 million rods and 6 million cones in the human retina, each type contributing differently to our visual perception.
The cone cells contain three types of photopigments, known as opsins, that enable the perception of color. The process triggers a chemical change when light hits the photoreceptors, leading to a change in retinal ganglion cell activity. This is how the retina processes the colorful world around us during the day and in well-lit environments.