Color Blindness
Genetic Disorder Project
What is Color Blindness?
What are Symptoms of Color Blindness?
How Common is Color Blindness?
We all have 23 pairs of chromosomes. The 23rd chromosome determines your sex, XX for females, and XY for males, but that is also where the color blindness trait is found. The trait for color blindness appears on the X chromosome. Because males only have one X chromosome, the trait only needs to appear on that one chromosome. Females have to have the trait on both X chromosomes, making it harder for the color blindness trait to appear on each. Therefor, the color blindness trait is more common for males. 8% of the male population is affected.
Can You Prevent Color Blindness?
How Can I Find Out if I'm Color Blind?
How Many Types of Color Blindness is There?
There are several types of color blindness. There are three main groups, red-green color blindness, blue-yellow color blindness, and complete color blindness.
Red-Green Color Blindness
Red-Green Color blindness is the most common kind. There are different types of this, Protanomaly, Protanopia, Deuteranomaly, and Deuteranopia. They are cause by loss of red cone or green cone photopigments.
Blue-Yellow Color Blindness
Blue-green color blindness is less common than red-green. Blue cone photopigments are missing or not completely functioning. There are two types, Tritanopia and Tritanomaly.
Complete Color Blindness
Complete color blindness is very rare. You wouldn't be able to see any colors and your vision could be affected. The two types, Cone monochromacy and Rod monochromacy or achromatopsia, are very rare.
For more information involving the different types of color blindness, go to the Color Blind Association or consult your eye doctor.
Red-Green Color Blindness
Blue-Yellow Color Blindness
Complete Color Blindness
How Can Color Blindness be Developed Over Time?
Color blindness can be developed from chronicle illnesses, accidents like strokes, medications, industrial or environmental changes, and aging. However, most people are born with the sex-linked trait.
How Can Color Blindness Affect My Life?
Color blindness has no impact on your life expectancy, but you need to be extra cautious in your every day life. You may not be able to tell if meat is cooked or raw. You may not be able to see the different colored traffic lights. These things can be harmful and have an actual impact, so you have to ask others for help. 60% of people who are color blind experience problems in their everyday life.
Color blindness isn't classified as a disorder, so don't make it one!
Organizations and Support Groups
There are many organizations and support groups for color blindness. Color Blind Awareness and NAACBP are some organizations you can go to for extra support and information. There are also many non-profit organizations that offer support and guidance.
If color blindness is affecting your job or you need permits for working with color blindness, visit www.hse.gov.uk.