Colorblindnes

By: Teagan
s
Lee &
Jasmine
Johnson

Inheriting the Disease

Colorblindness is:
Recessive
Found only on the X-chromosome (therefore more common in
males)
A female can be color blind, completely normal, or a carrier (meaning
they are heterozygous)
The figure above shows a carrier female and a normal male cross
resulting in a 50% chance of either gender child being colorblind

Chromosome Abnormality
The X chromosome has the genes that code for red and green lightsensitive proteins located on it
When these genes are mutated it causes color blindness due to an
inability to recognize or even see certain colors

Prevalence in the Global Population

Worldwide:
approximately 1 in 12 men (8%) are colorblind
around 1 in 200 women (0.5%) are colorblind

This is a huge amount!

Diagnosing Colorblindness
Diagnosed in early childhood

Use simple screening tests:

- Hardy-Rand-Rittler (H-R-R)
- Ishihara Color Plates

Evaluate the type and degree of color deficiency.

Symptoms

Trouble differentiating colors or even seeing certain colors such as red

and green

So what is it like to be colorblind?

Life Expectancy
No direct affect on life expectancy
Could make someone more likely to have an accident
such as inability to see a red stop light

Treatment?
-

There is no treatment for color blindness

For red-green color deficiency of colorblindness no treatment is needed

because people with this type can function normally

Colored contact lenses can be used to brighten up colors that are hard to
see but many people say that the lenses are not effective and make it worse
when wearing them

There is hope for a cure for inherited color blindness by using gene
technology. Genetic material can be pumped into the eye

People also try wearing glasses that block the glare

Researching Treatment
- Human experiments that involve gene therapy can continue if
approved by the National Institute of Healths Office
- Studies of gene therapy have been tested on Monkeys and it work
but it may not work as well with humans
- If treatment for color blindness is tested then that will open new
segways for other vision diseases
- According to the Seattle Times a couple named Jay and Maureen
Neitz did a study and found that genes can replace missing colorproducing proteins in cells called cones located in the eyes

Limitations
- Cant see traffic lights
- Cant see the color in food
- Hard to pick out an outfit that matches
- Difficult to find jobs because those who are colorblind cant be:
pilots, electricians, firefighters, police officers, and painters

Organizations
- Coloured Blind Awareness is an organization that supports families
for their children that are affected by being colorblind
- Another organization is that National Association for the
Advancement of Color-Blind People (NAACBP)
- Ophthalmology: EyeSmart (U.S.) and the American Optometric
Association are more organizations that provide help

Linking the Disease

- There are hypothesizes that because deuteranomaly is prevalent in
human populations, the gene responsible may have once provided
an evolutionary advantage. For instance, according to an article
published in 2005 1 colorblindness may have helped to spot
potential food items in complicated environments such as grass.

Colour blindness may have hidden advantages. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051205/full/news051205-1.html

Interesting Facts
-

Color blindness is more prevalent among males than females, because the most common
form of color vision deficiency is encoded on the X sex chromosome.

There are three main types of color vision deficiency: protan, deutan, and tritan defects.

Colored lenses or glasses can improve color discrimination in your problem areas but can not
give you back normal color vision.

A father cant pass his red-green color blindness on to his sons.

There are people which are really suffering from complete color blindness, which is called
achromatopsia or monochromacy.

99% of all colorblind people are not really color blind but color deficient; the term
color blindness is misleading.

In certain countries you need normal color vision to get a driver's license.

Bibliography
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"X-linked Recessive: Red-Green Color Blindness, Hemophilia A." The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
"Page 15 - SAMPLE PAGES - Passing the Maryland Biology High School Assessment." Page 15 - SAMPLE PAGES - Passing the Maryland
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Singh, Jaipal. "X-Chromosome." Boloji. N.p., 27 May 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
"Colour Blindness." Colour Blind Awareness. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
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"LOS AVANCES Y LA ACTUALIDAD SOBRE EL DALTONISMO." : Tablas De Hardy-Rand-Rittler. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.

Bibliography Continued
"Protanomaly and Deuteranomaly and Colorblindness, Oh My!" Winging It. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
"Color Blindness." : What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone with Color Blindness? N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
Become an NAACBP Member. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.naacbp.org/about_us.php
Colour blindness may have hidden advantages. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051205/full/news051205-1.html
Dangers & Limitations. (2009). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.colour-blindness.com/general/dangers/
Early Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.colourblindawareness.org/parents/early-symptoms/
GeneTherapy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.neitzvision.com/content/genetherapy.html
UW scientists, biotech firm may have cure for colorblindness. (2015). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.seattletimes.com/seattlenews/health/uw-scientists-biotech-firm-may-have-cure-for-colorblindness/
University And Biotech Firm Team Up On Colorblindness Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.npr.org/sections/healthshots/2015/03/25/395303785/university-and-biotech-firm-team-up-on-colorblindness-therapy
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