There is a known mutation in the human genome that makes seeing some way into the UV end possible. Ordinarily it's blocked by a protein in the cornea (an adaptation to prevent retina burn) but in some people that protein is inactivated so UV gets though, it's often linked to very pale fair skin and red or blonde hair. (basically, it's part of the pigmentation cluster)
Interesting fact though, in those people where it's inactivated, because it's actually a two part protein complex the second part of the blocking protein is often still present, and acts like a polarising filter, conferring the ability to see polarised light instead. (the UV blocking is thought to be a later mutation after we moved out of the forests)
This might actually be an adaptation passed on from our ancestors who lived in the arboreal margins since being able to see polarised light would give them an idea of the direction of sun, even if they couldn't see it directly.
According to my beloved, who has this mutation, is shows as blue-on-blue bands in the sky on sunny days and a 'grain' to shafts of sunlight.
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dancing_serpent
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2023-11-29 02:16 am (UTC)There is a known mutation in the human genome that makes seeing some way into the UV end possible. Ordinarily it's blocked by a protein in the cornea (an adaptation to prevent retina burn) but in some people that protein is inactivated so UV gets though, it's often linked to very pale fair skin and red or blonde hair. (basically, it's part of the pigmentation cluster)
Interesting fact though, in those people where it's inactivated, because it's actually a two part protein complex the second part of the blocking protein is often still present, and acts like a polarising filter, conferring the ability to see polarised light instead. (the UV blocking is thought to be a later mutation after we moved out of the forests)
This might actually be an adaptation passed on from our ancestors who lived in the arboreal margins since being able to see polarised light would give them an idea of the direction of sun, even if they couldn't see it directly.
According to my beloved, who has this mutation, is shows as blue-on-blue bands in the sky on sunny days and a 'grain' to shafts of sunlight.