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In humans, color vision is dependent on three types of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone cells are most sensitive to blue lights, medium-wavelength-sensitive (M) cone cells are most sensitive to green lights, and long-wavelength-sensitive (L) cones are most sensitive to red lights. Most mammals, including mice, possess only S and M cone pigments and can distinguish only a fraction of the wavelengths that can be distinguished by humans. The two spectra above illustrate researchers' best guess as to how mice—normal mice and those that have been genetically modified to express long-wavelength-sensitive cone cells—perceive light of different wavelengths.
Illustration: Jim Holloway
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