Its very unlikely. Colour is our response to a type of radiation. We have three varieties of cone or photoreceptors which code the radiation, so until we evolve a new photoreceptor we’re stuck with the colours we have.
I agree with Michael. We seem to cope pretty well in the world with understanding the ones we have already, so there’s no biological reason to extend the number.
Michael, am I right in thinking some people only have 2 out of 3 colour receptors in the eye? Do they only have a limited range of colours
I agree with Michael, it would take a lot of evolution to change what colors humans are sensitive to. But there are cultural differences in what color divisions are given verbal labels!
People with a colour vision defects can be missing one of three pigments found in each cone photoreceptor type. The cone types are called; L (long wavelength), M (medium) and S (short) these encode red, green and blue respectively. Nearly all red-green colour defects can be understood as caused by the absence of one class of cone photo-pigment. There is an accessible paper here psy.ucsd.edu/~dmacleod/221/color%20papers/Neitzreview.pdf
Loss of M class is called Deutan, L class Protan and S class Tritan defects. The inherited Deutan and Protan defects are found in 8 to 10% of white European men. The inherited Triatan defect is rare at 1 in 10,000 people.
The colour vison defects are also classified by severity, those people without one pigment class are called dichromats. There are milder forms called anomalous trichromats, who can see are probably due to having one pigment absent and the other class available in two slightly different forms. So that there is still some perception of the usual visible spectrum but with reduced discrimination.
By the way chickens (and other birds) have five cone types, four single cones, which support tetrachromatic color vision (4 channels) and a double cone, which is thought to code achromatic (light/dark) motion perception.
The four cone codes for short wavelengths so they are able to discriminate blues and ultra-violets, as for why I don’t know. There may be advantages if deciding between a beetle an piece of grit or possibly markings on a potential mate.
Comments
Michael commented on :
People with a colour vision defects can be missing one of three pigments found in each cone photoreceptor type. The cone types are called; L (long wavelength), M (medium) and S (short) these encode red, green and blue respectively. Nearly all red-green colour defects can be understood as caused by the absence of one class of cone photo-pigment. There is an accessible paper here psy.ucsd.edu/~dmacleod/221/color%20papers/Neitzreview.pdf
Loss of M class is called Deutan, L class Protan and S class Tritan defects. The inherited Deutan and Protan defects are found in 8 to 10% of white European men. The inherited Triatan defect is rare at 1 in 10,000 people.
The colour vison defects are also classified by severity, those people without one pigment class are called dichromats. There are milder forms called anomalous trichromats, who can see are probably due to having one pigment absent and the other class available in two slightly different forms. So that there is still some perception of the usual visible spectrum but with reduced discrimination.
Andrew commented on :
Interesting, thanks!
Michael commented on :
By the way chickens (and other birds) have five cone types, four single cones, which support tetrachromatic color vision (4 channels) and a double cone, which is thought to code achromatic (light/dark) motion perception.
scottl commented on :
Will there ever be a new color and if so what wpuld it look like
Andrew commented on :
Any idea why they have so many?
Michael commented on :
The four cone codes for short wavelengths so they are able to discriminate blues and ultra-violets, as for why I don’t know. There may be advantages if deciding between a beetle an piece of grit or possibly markings on a potential mate.
superhawk629 commented on :
I agree with Michael