See and S-cones

We see the outside world as it appears projected on the backs of our eyes – where the retina’s photoreceptor cells react to differently-coloured wavelengths of light, helping to send pictures to the brain. But not all photoreceptors are the same, and they’re arranged in different patterns, giving different species unique visual powers. These maps of the curved surface of a mouse retina, laid out flat like a projected map of the Earth, highlight photoreceptors in bright colours (top row), while a specific type called S-cones cluster on the lower of side of the retina (bottom row). This is where light rays from above come into focus, suggesting mice have sensitive colour vision dedicated to the skies and trees, where flying predators hover or their next meal might be. Applying similar techniques to map out human photoreceptors, and their wiring towards the brain, may reveal clues to conditions affecting our vision.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from adapted from work by Francisco M Nadal-Nicolás and colleagues
• Retinal Neurophysiology Section, National Eye Institute (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
• Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in eLife, May 2020