Tetrachromat in Our Midst

Humans typically have only three functioning types of cone cells (trichromats), but Concetta Antico is not typical. Thus far, she is the only person in recorded history to have a functioning fourth cone. She was only made aware of her condition after a series of chance events; until midlife, she had no idea there were biological differences between her view of the world and others'.

Ironically, because the same mutation that made her incredible vision possible directly impacts the cone cells of her eye, and because her husband is color-blind, her daughter is color blind. Below is a painting by Concetta Antico. Do you sense a unique and niche color practice?

If Antico went her whole life unaware of her special ability, could more Tetrachromats be hiding in our midst? It has been suggested that as women have two different X chromosomes in their cells, some of them could be carrying variant cone cell pigments. One study has suggested that 2–3% of the world’s women might have the kind of fourth cone that lies between the standard red and green cones, giving, theoretically, a significant increase in color differentiation. Yet another study suggests that as many as 50% of women and 8% of men may have four photopigments. Read the full Antico interview at http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/02/what-like-see-a-hundred-million-colors.html

-Madeline