Home > Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders > Rhodopsin

Definition

Rhodopsin is the visual pigment that "senses" light in the rod cells of the retina.

Where is rhodopsin?

Rhodopsin is found at the back of the eye, in the retina. The retina is the area of the eye that senses light, interprets that information, and transmits it to the brain for further interpretation. Two types of light-sensing cells are found in the retina: rods and cones. In a simplified explanation, rod cells are responsible for black and white vision, whereas cone cells are responsible for color vision. This is true as far as it goes, but there are many more differences between rods and cones.

In rod cells, rhodopsin is responsible for phototransduction, the process of turning light into chemical and electrical energy. Rhodopsin is responsible for phototransduction in...