Which of the following is NOT true regarding photoreceptors?

Photoreceptors, specifically rods and cones, have distinct metabolic demands based on their activity levels in different lighting conditions. In the dark, photoreceptors maintain a certain level of activity for processes such as the continual regeneration of photopigments and the maintenance of the dark current. This higher activity level in the dark leads to increased oxygen consumption and ATP production compared to when they are in the light.

The assertion that rods require more energy than cones is not accurate because cones typically have higher metabolic demands during daylight conditions due to their greater activation and the rapid turnover of photopigments required for high-resolution vision. Cones are designed for performance in bright light and require significant amounts of ATP to sustain their functions, including the phototransduction cascade.

The statement regarding photoreceptors primarily using aerobic glycolysis is also true, as they generate ATP through both aerobic respiration and glycolytic pathways, but the primary means involves aerobic mechanisms that efficiently produce ATP in the presence of oxygen.

This comprehensive understanding explains why the assertion that "rods require more energy than cones" is not true, highlighting the differing metabolic capacities and activities of the two types of photoreceptors under varying lighting conditions.