The reaction that transduces light into an electrical signal in rods is the
A) bleaching of rhodopsin by light.
B) elicitation of action potentials in rods.
C) turning red of rhodopsin.
D) inhibition of action potentials in rods.
E) elicitation of action potentials in cones.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reaction that transduces light into an electrical signal in rods is the bleaching of rhodopsin by light. Rhodopsin is a pigment found in the outer segments of rod cells and is composed of opsin, a protein, and 11-cis-retinal, a derivative of vitamin A. When light strikes rhodopsin, it causes the 11-cis-retinal to isomerize to all-trans-retinal, which changes the shape of opsin and triggers a cascade of events that ultimately leads to the generation of an electrical signal. This signal is then transmitted to the brain, where it is interpreted as visual information.

The Reaction That Transduces Light into an Electrical Signal in Rods