What is the Difference Between Deutan and Protan?

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Deutan and protan are both types of red-green color blindness, but they are characterized by different cone cell sensitivities and are caused by different gene mutations. Here are the main differences between deutan and protan:

  • Deutan: This type of color blindness is due to the anomaly of a retinal cone called the M cone. It is caused by a hereditary gene mutation of OPN1MW. Deutan is the most common type of color blindness, affecting about 6% of men, and is characterized by a reduced sensitivity to green light, making it difficult to differentiate between shades of red and green.
  • Protan: This type of color blindness is due to the anomaly of a retinal cone called the L cone. It is caused by a hereditary gene mutation of OPNILW. Protan is the second most common type of red-green color blindness. It is characterized by a reduced sensitivity to red light, making it difficult for people with this condition to distinguish between blues, greens, oranges, reds, and browns.

In summary, the key difference between deutan and protan lies in the retinal cone anomalies and the gene mutations causing them. Both conditions result in difficulties distinguishing red and green colors, but the specific colors and shades that are hard to differentiate may vary between the two types.

Comparative Table: Deutan vs Protan

The main difference between deutan and protan lies in the specific retinal cone that is affected, leading to red-green color blindness. Here is a table summarizing the differences between deutan and protan:

Feature Deutan Protan
Retinal Cone Anomaly Anomaly in the M cone Anomaly in the L cone
Color Blindness Type Red-green color blindness Red-green color blindness
Causal Gene Mutation OPN1MW OPNILW
Inheritance Pattern Sex-linked, X-linked recessive Sex-linked, X-linked recessive
Prevalence More common in males More common in males
Diagnostic Tests Color vision tests or Ishihara color tests Color vision tests or Ishihara color tests
Treatment Specific glasses Specific glasses

Both deutan and protan are forms of red-green color blindness, and they can be diagnosed through color vision tests or Ishihara color tests. They are sex-linked conditions that follow X-linked recessive inheritance patterns, meaning they are more common in males than females. The specific gene mutations responsible for these conditions are OPN1MW for deutan and OPNILW for protan. In both cases, the affected individuals have difficulties discriminating red and green colors, and they can be treated by wearing specific glasses.