👉 The gene light particles, often referred to as photoreceptor genes or opsin genes, are crucial components in the visual system of many organisms, including humans. These genes encode proteins called photopigments, which are responsible for detecting light and initiating the visual signal transduction process. Photopigments, particularly rhodopsin in vertebrates, contain a light-sensitive molecule called retinal bound to a protein called opsin. When light strikes the photopigment, it causes a conformational change in retinal, triggering a cascade of biochemical events that ultimately lead to the transmission of visual information from the retina to the brain. This gene family is diverse, with variations allowing for different types of vision, such as color vision and adaptation to low-light conditions, across various species.
