Definition
opsin
noun
- a protein in the retina of the eye that combines with retinal to form visual pigments and is essential for vision
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- Opsin is a key component of rhodopsin, the light-sensitive protein in rod cells.
- When light hits the retina, it causes opsin to change shape and trigger a visual signal.
- Different types of opsin in cone cells allow humans to see different colors.
- The mutation in the opsin gene led to color blindness in the patient.
- Scientists study opsin to understand how the eye detects light at the molecular level.