Rod outer segments are designed for optimum photon detection.
The proposal that rod outer segment length is optimal with respect to photon absorption and noise control is extended and tested in a number of species. We find good agreement with our optimality criterion in duplex retinae where rods act as detectors of one or a few photons, but not in all rod retinae nor in those which are exposed to significant photic environmental noise.
Leibovic
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KN
Biophysics Department, School of Medicine, SUNY/Buffalo, NY 14214.
Moreno-Diaz
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R
D000042:Absorption; D000557:Ambystoma; D000818:Animals; D002024:Bufo marinus; D008433:Mathematics; D011817:Rabbits; D011827:Radiation; D011894:Rana pipiens; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000502:physiology*; D012860:Skates, Fish; D014796:Visual Perception