Color blindness is quite common, about 8% of the male population have it. Color blindness, or color vision deficiency, is the incapability to see color, or notice color differences under normal light. Color Blindness can change a person’s life. It can make it harder to read and learn, and certain careers are unavailable (Williams, 2010). The most usual case of color blindness is a sex-linked condition. This is caused by an error in the development of the retinal cones that distinguish color in light and transfer it to the optic nerve. Sometimes a person can acquire color blindness from aging, eye problems, injury or a side affect of A medicine.
Color blindness has been around for quite sometime. John Dalton, an English chemist, was the first to report the disorder. He wrote the first scientific paper on color blindness in 1798. The first general condition of color blindness was called Daltonism. Given that both he and his brother were color blind, he realized that this condition has to be hereditary. Dalton believed that a colored liquid inside the eyeball was the reason for color blindness, acting like a tinted shield surrounding the eyeball. Before Dalton died one of his last wishes was to get an autopsy of his eyes after death. Scientists dissected his eye and found no colored liquid. Although Dalton’s theory lost creditability through his life and was proved wrong after his death, Dalton was the first to recognize color vision problems (Wearecolorblind, 2012). After the theory of John Dalton was proved wrong, two men named Thomas Young and Hermann von Helmholtz were the first to propose trichromatic color vision. Once the theory developed, it was not long after the basics were learned. By 1802, Young suggested there were three types of cone cells in the eye. Each cone cell is sensitive to a different particular range of light. By 1850 Hermann von Helmholtz expanded the theory further. Helmholtz stated that the three types of cone cells could be arraigned depending on the wavelengths of light hitting the retina. Short waves are blue, medium waves are green, and long waves are red. Young and Helmholtz’s theory wasn’t proven until 1958 when a Swedish physiologist, named Gunnar Svaetichin, examined the outside layers of fish retinas. Svaetichin found that electroretinograms in wavelengths of blue, green, and red showed particular sensitivity. By 1983 the theory was complete. Scientist Bowmaker, Dartnall, and Mollon achieved microspectrophotopic readings of single eye cone cells in humans ( Wearecolorblind, 2012). We have come a long way since 1798. Today scientists are working on gene therapy, which would cure color blindness. Being a colorblind person, I would love to see this as a breakthrough in the near future.
In America today color blindness affects roughly 8% European decent, 4% African American decent and only .4% of women. Colorblindness is an X-linked recessive inheritance trait. X-linked recessive is a mode of inheritance that a mutated gene on the X chromosome causes a phenotype to be expressed. X-linked recessive only affects males who are hemizygous for the gene alteration since they have only one X chromosome, and females who are homozygous for the gene alteration (Kennard, 2007). The effects of color blindness can be anywhere from mild to severe depending upon the defected gene. If someone inherited color blindness it won’t get better or worse, the disorder will stay the same throughout ones life. The environment plays no role in the condition of color blindness. The most common form of color blindness, Deuteranomaly, results from problems with the middle or long wavelength sensitive cones. Also known as “red-green” colorblindness, this form of color blindness accounts for 6% of men with the disorder. The medium wavelength gets shifted towards the red end of the spectrum causing a reduction in sensitivity to the green area of the spectrum
Color blindness can have a huge impact on someone’s life; therefore it’s important to discover the problem as soon as possible (Phillips, 1995). There are many different symptoms with color blindness and some may vary. A colorblind person may be able to see some colors but not others. Example, he or she might not be able to tell the difference between red and green but can see blue and orange. Color blindness may be harder to detect than one might think, particularly in children. This is because a colorblind person could see many colors, so they may not know that they are seeing color differently from others. Being a colorblind person, I didn’t find out I was colorblind until later in the third grade. I was able to see multiple colors, however I just didn’t know I was viewing them differently from others. Another symptom is limited shades of colors. A colorblind person may only be able to see a few shades of color, whereas others can see thousands of shades of color. In some rare cases a colorblind person could only see black, white, and grey. There are many tests that can detect color blindness, but the most common one is the Ishihara Plate test. This test contains 38 images of random color circles that make out a number. Some images contain numbers that only people with normal color vision can see, while others have numbers that only people with color blindness can see. The amount of errors a person makes determines their severity of the disorder. They also have special images for young children who can’t identify numbers yet. These images usually have simple pictures on them like a boat or a car (webMD, 2012). There is more intense and precise test available other than the Ishihara Plate test. The Farnsworth Lantern Test is another colorblind test originally made for sailors. Professionals and companies who want to identify people not suitable to work use this test more. Truck drivers, train drivers, or any other work that demands accurately reading of colors for safety reasons uses this test today(Evans, 2013) .
With the rate of technology advancing today, it’s not long before treatment is available for colorblind people. Gene therapy is the use of DNA in a drug form to treat a disease or disorder. It works by delivering therapeutic DNA into a patient's cells. There are two types of gene therapy, somatic and germline. Somatic gene therapy provides DNA to somatic cells, or non-sex cells. Any affects of gene therapy will only affect the individual and won’t be inherited by their offspring. There are currently over 600 experiments of somatic cell gene therapy going on in the United States. A large majority of these cases involve treatment with Cystic Fibrosis and haemophilia. Somatic cell gene therapy is only for treatment; complete cure of the mutated gene is not yet available. Only a few of the 600 trials are advancing to new stages. Germline gene therapy is intended for sex cells only. It works by combining a modified gene with germ cells to form a zygote. This will then divide and produce all other cells in an organism. Knowing this, it would allow it to be heritable and passed on to later generations. Countries such as Australia and Canada have prohibited germline gene therapy due to ethical reasons and risk to future generations. This procedure is more complex with higher risk than somatic gene therapy. Currently The United States has no federal law against human germline or somatic gene therapy. Gene therapy has made tremendous advancements since the first experiment in 1990. The most recent successful experiment happened in March 2014. Scientist at the University of Pennsylvania stated that 12 people with HIV had been treated (Dvorsky, 2014). There are some speculations that go along with gene therapy. There is risk that athletes could start “Gene doping”. Gene doping is the non-therapeutic use of cells to modify and enhance athletic ability. Another assumption is human genetic engineering. There’s speculation that people could use genetic engineering to change metabolism, physical appearances, and improve mental capabilities. This has caused some concerns and ethical issues. Some people believe every fetus has the right to be born genetically unmodified, while others believe it should be up to the parents if they want to genetically modify their offspring. Gene therapy is no doubt on the rise and could be the next break through in humanity. People who acquire color blindness over time can possibly take medications or have surgery for treatment. Optometrists can also supply colored lenses or a single red-tint contact lens to wear. Although this improves the vision of some colors, it can make other colors more difficult to see.
Today’s society and culture is changing everyday. People who are colorblind in the United States are treated as normal. Although there is no discrimination against people with the disorder, there are a lot of misconceptions. Growing up being colorblind is more difficult than normal. Reading color-coded maps is one of the most difficult things for colorblind people. Companies and designers need to take in account that people with color deficiency can’t distinguish certain colors on a map (Evans, 2008). In todays society color blindness can make it difficult or impossible to get certain occupations. Any job regarding color perception for safety is more than likely off limits. More and more organizations are rising and promoting colorblind awareness. Websites, such as colourblindawareness.org, and companies are providing information and tips on people dealing with being colorblind.
Throughout my life I have learned to deal and cope with the challenges that come with being colorblind. I can remember one specific moment in the third grade that will stick with me forever. I was about 8 years old and we were learning to multiply and divide big numbers. My teacher passed out 20 jellybeans in blue, red, green, and orange, and told us to first group them together according to color. At the time I wasn’t aware I was colorblind. When she handed me my jellybeans I instantly noticed she gave me a lot more red jellybeans than green and orange. In fact, I grouped them up as: 5 blue jellybeans, 11 red jellybeans, 3 orange jellybeans, and only 1 green jellybean. I didn’t think much of it because that’s just what I saw. I trusted myself, while everyone else had perfect groups of 5 jellybeans. The teacher came over and told me I need to count them again. With a confused look, I recounted and again I had exactly 5 blue, 11 red, 3 orange, and 1 green jellybean. Right away my teacher figured out I was colorblind and tried to explain to me what that meant. Attempting to explain color blindness to a confused 8-year-old kid is not the way to go. She emailed my parents and later that week I got tested for color blindness. Turns out that my grandpa was colorblind and my mom was a carrier. Since then I have learned to work around color blindness and focus on only what I can control. Being colorblind is challenging but it has shaped me into the man I am today.
Works Cited
1. Color Blindness. (2010, May 14). What is Color Blindness. Retrieved February 10,
2014, from Colour-Blindness: http://www.colour-blindness.com/
2. Dvorsky, G. (2014, March 6). Scientists create genetically modified cells that protect
against HIV. Gene therapy revoltion. 12. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from io9
3. Evans, A. (2008). Color Is In The Eye Of The Beholder. Boston, massachusetts: CVD
Publishing.
4. Kennard, J. (2007, Janurary 7). Color Blindness in Men. Mens Health. Retrieved
February 10, 2014, from About.MensHealth: MensHealth.about.com
5. MedicineNet. (2012, May 14). Color Blindness. Retrieved February 9, 2014, from
MedicineNet: MedicineNet.com
6. Phillips, R. H. (1995). Coping With Colorblindness (Vol. 1). New York City, New York:
Avery.
7. Wearecolorblind. (2012, Janurary 10). A introduction to colorblindness. Retrieved
February 9, 2014, from Wearecolorblind: Wearecolorblind.com
8. WebMD. (2011, April 2011). Eye Health Care. Retrieved Feburary 9, 2014, from
WebMD.com
9. Williams, P. (2010). Color Blind A Memoir. New York City, New York: St. Martins
Pres.
1. Color Blindness. (2010, May 14). What is Color Blindness. Retrieved February 10,
2014, from Colour-Blindness: http://www.colour-blindness.com/
2. Dvorsky, G. (2014, March 6). Scientists create genetically modified cells that protect
against HIV. Gene therapy revoltion. 12. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from io9
3. Evans, A. (2008). Color Is In The Eye Of The Beholder. Boston, massachusetts: CVD
Publishing.
4. Kennard, J. (2007, Janurary 7). Color Blindness in Men. Mens Health. Retrieved
February 10, 2014, from About.MensHealth: MensHealth.about.com
5. MedicineNet. (2012, May 14). Color Blindness. Retrieved February 9, 2014, from
MedicineNet: MedicineNet.com
6. Phillips, R. H. (1995). Coping With Colorblindness (Vol. 1). New York City, New York:
Avery.
7. Wearecolorblind. (2012, Janurary 10). A introduction to colorblindness. Retrieved
February 9, 2014, from Wearecolorblind: Wearecolorblind.com
8. WebMD. (2011, April 2011). Eye Health Care. Retrieved Feburary 9, 2014, from
WebMD.com
9. Williams, P. (2010). Color Blind A Memoir. New York City, New York: St. Martins
Pres.
color_blindness_powerpoint.pptx | |
File Size: | 2769 kb |
File Type: | pptx |