rhodopsin

[ roh-dop-sin ]

nounBiochemistry.
  1. a bright-red photosensitive pigment found in the rod-shaped cells of the retina of certain fishes and most higher vertebrates: it is broken down by the action of dim light into retinal and opsin.

Origin of rhodopsin

1
1885–90; rhod- + Greek óps(is) sight, vision + -in2

Words Nearby rhodopsin

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British Dictionary definitions for rhodopsin

rhodopsin

/ (rəʊˈdɒpsɪn) /


noun
  1. a red pigment in the rods of the retina in vertebrates. It is dissociated by light into retinene, the light energy being converted into nerve signals, and is re-formed in the dark: Also called: visual purple See also iodopsin

Origin of rhodopsin

1
C20: from rhodo- + -opsis + -in

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