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Albinism is caused by genetic mutations that affect the production of a pigment called melanin. There is a cell called the melanocyte that is responsible for giving skin, hair, and eyes pigmentation. In albinism, the melanocytes are present, but genetic mutations interfere with their pigment production or their ability to distribute it to keratinocytes (the major cell type comprising the epidermis, or outer layer of the skin).
There are currently five known genetic types of albinism, the most common being oculocutaneous type 1 (OCA1) and type 2 (OCA2). Oculocutaneous means affecting the eyes and skin ("oculo" meaning eye and "cutaneous" meaning skin).
The genetic mutation is usually the result of both parents having the recessive gene. However, some forms of albinism have resulted when only one parent had the recessive gene.
It is the condition that is caused by inability of the body to produce a melanin pigment. Albinism is a recessive trait inherited disease, meaning you have inherited two albinism genes, one from each of your parent.
When, say, first cousins or brothers and sisters marry their children have to many of the same gene, that happening, it ends up in albism. there is no 'cure' for albinism You are born with it and that's that.
I f 2 parents, a mother and a father, each had 1 albinism gene each of their children would have a 1 in 2 chance of carrying the gene themselves and a 1 in 4 chance of being albino that is the cause of albinism
What else can I help you with?
Do chemicals cause albinism?
albinism is a genetic condition where the body does not produce melanin pigment.
What results from a recessive gene that prevents the making of pigments?
Albinism is a condition that results from a recessive gene preventing the production of pigments in the skin, hair, and eyes. Individuals with albinism have skin that lacks melanin, leading to a pale appearance, and they often have sensitivity to sunlight due to the lack of melanin's protective effects. Additionally, those with albinism may have vision problems, as the lack of pigment in the eyes can cause issues with visual development.
What is the primary cause of graying hair?
The primary cause of graying hair is the natural aging process, which leads to a decrease in melanin production in hair follicles. Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its color, and as its production decreases with age, hair turns gray or white.
What causes silver hair to develop as we age?
As we age, our hair follicles produce less melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. This decrease in melanin production can cause hair to appear gray or silver.
Why does the colour of skin varies among people?
Varying amounts of melanin (skin pigment) based on genes and or bodily response to irradiation from the sun. (sun exposure will cause increased melanin production, also known as getting a tan)
What cells and tissue cause the black and white color of some pigs?
The black color in pigs is caused by melanin pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin. The white color in pigs is caused by a lack of melanin production, which is due to a genetic mutation. Melanin determines the pigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes in animals, including pigs.
3 physiological factors that affect skin color?
Melanin production: Different levels of melanin, a pigment produced by specialized cells in the skin, affect skin color. Blood circulation: Differences in blood flow to the skin can influence skin color, with increased blood flow leading to a redder appearance. Sun exposure: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause the skin to darken as a result of melanin production.
What is albinoism?
People with albinism have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair (white skin, hair, no eyebrows or eyelashes and pale blue eyes or pale pink eyes, but can be violet or brown). They have inherited genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. One person in 17,000 in the U.S.A. has some type of albinism. Albinism affects people from all races. Albinos must protect their eyes from the sunlight. Albinos use to stick to themselves simply because society seems to have a problem accepting them or will at least stare at them and treat them "different." In todays world they are healthy in every way, intelligent and can lead normal lives.
How do melanin carotene and blood affect skin color?
Melanin darkens skin. It is also responsible for photoprotection, ie resistance to ultraviolet light-induced skin damage. This is achieved by rapidly converting incoming ultraviolet light into heat, which is much less likely to cause problems like free radicals. Thus, sunlight exposure tends to stimulate melanin production.
What systems does albinism effect?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism Albino" redirects here. For other uses, see Albino (disambiguation). Semi-protected Albinism Classification and external resources Girl from Honduras with probable OCA1a-type albinism. ICD-10 E70.3 ICD-9 270.2 OMIM 203100 103470, 203200, 203280, 203290, 203300, 203310, 256710, 278400, 214450, 214500, 220900, 300500, 300600, 300650, 300700, 600501, 604228, 606574, 606952, 607624, 609227 DiseasesDB 318 MedlinePlus 001479 eMedicine derm/12 MeSH D000417 Albinism (from Latin albus, "white"; see extended etymology, also called achromia, achromasia, or achromatosis; not to be confused with albedo) is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder, characterized by a partial (in hypomelanism, also known as hypomelanosis) or total (amelanism or amelanosis) lack of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair (or more rarely the eyes alone). Albinism results from inheritance of recessive alleles. The condition is known to affect mammals (including humans), fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians. While the most common term for an organism affected by albinism is "albino" (noun and adjective), the word is sometimes used in derogatory ways towards people; more neutral terms are "albinistic" (adjective) and "person with albinism" (noun). Additional clinical adjectives sometimes used to refer to animals are "albinoid" and "albinic". Albinism is hereditary; it is not an infectious disease and cannot be transmitted through contact, blood transfusions, or other vectors. The principal gene which results in albinism prevents the body from making the usual amounts of the pigment melanin. Most forms of albinism are the result of the biological inheritance of genetically recessive alleles (genes) passed from both parents of an individual, though some rare forms are inherited from only one parent. There are other genetic mutations which are proven to be associated with albinism. All alterations, however, lead to changes in melanin production in the body.[1][2] Albinism was formerly categorized as tyrosinase-positive or -negative. In cases of tyrosinase-positive albinism, the enzyme tyrosinase is present. The melanocytes (pigment cells) are unable to produce melanin for any one of a variety of reasons that do not directly involve the tyrosinase enzyme. In tyrosinase-negative cases, either the tyrosinase enzyme is not produced or a nonfunctional version is produced. This classification has been rendered obsolete by recent research.[3] The chance of offspring with albinism resulting from the pairing of an organism with albinism and one without albinism is low, as discussed in more detail below. However, because organisms can be carriers of genes for albinism without exhibiting any traits, albinistic offspring can be produced by two non-albinistic parents. Albinism usually occurs with equal frequency in both genders.[1] An exception to this is ocular albinism, because it is passed on to offspring through X-linked inheritance. Thus, males more frequently have ocular albinism as they do not have a second X chromosome.[3] Albino Bennett's Wallaby, Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia Because organisms with albinism have skin that lacks (sufficiently or entirely) the dark pigment melanin, which helps protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun, they can sunburn easily from overexposure. (See human skin color for more information). Lack of melanin in the eye also results in problems with vision, related and unrelated to photosensitivity, which are discussed further below. Most humans and many animals with albinism appear white or very pale; the multiple types of melanin pigment are responsible for brown, black, gray, and some yellow colorations. In some animals, especially albinistic birds and reptiles, ruddy and yellow hues or other colors may be present on the entire body or in patches (as is common among pigeons), due to the presence of other pigments unaffected by albinism such as porphyrins, pteridines and psittacins, as well as carotenoid pigments derived from the diet. Some animals are white or pale due to chromatophore (pigment cell) defects, do not lack melanin production, and have normal eyes; they are referred to as leucistic. The direct opposite of albinism, an unusually high level of melanin pigmentation (and sometimes absence of other types of pigment in species that have more than one), is known as melanism, and results in an appearance darker than non-melanistic specimens from the same genepool.[4] Albinism-like conditions may affect other pigments or pigment-production mechanisms in some animals (e.g. "whiteface", a lack of psittacins that can affect some parrot species.).[5] Another is common in reptiles and amphibians: axanthism, in which xanthophore metabolism, instead of synthesis of melanin, is affected, resuling in reduction or absence of red and yellow pteridine pigments.[6] Of all these conditions, only albinism and melanism affect humans. An albino Wistar rat, a strain commonly used for both biomedical and basic research. The eyes of an animal with albinism occasionally appear red due to the underlying retinal blood vessels showing through where there is not enough pigment to cover them. In humans this is rarely the case, as a human eye is quite large and thus produces enough pigment to lend opacity to the eye, often colouring the iris pale blue. However, there are cases in which the eyes of an albinistic person appear red or purple, depending on the amount of pigment present. The albinistic are generally (but see related disorders below) as healthy as the rest of their species, with growth and development occurring as normal, and albinism by itself does not cause mortality[1] (though the lack of pigment is an elevated risk for skin cancer and other problems.) Many animals with albinism lack their protective camouflage and are unable to conceal themselves from their predators or prey; the survival rate of animals with albinism in the wild is usually quite low.[7][8] However the novelty of albino animals has occasionally led to their protection by groups such as the Albino Squirrel Preservation Society. Intentionally-bred albinistic strains of some animal species are commonly used as model organisms in biomedical study and experimentation. Examples include the BALB/c mouse and Wistar and Sprague Dawley rat strains, while albino rabbits were historically used for Draize toxicity testing. [9] Albino axolotls, zebrafish, medaka and frogs are other common laboratory animals. The yellow mutation in fruit flies is their version of albinism. The incidence of albinism can be artificially increased in fish by exposing the eggs to heavy metals.[10] About 1 in 17,000 human beings has some type of albinism, although up to 1 in 70 is a carrier of albinism genes.[11]
Is albinism a chromosome disorder?
no albinism is a genetic disorders that changes an offsprings physical appearance from its original parents. it may also bring out the offsprings recessive traits. its also a cause of mental retardation
Do tanning tablets work?
Tanning Pills normally contain an ingredient call L-Tyrosine. This ingredient helps increase melanin production. The more melanin that is created...the more it will rise to the surface of your skin. In basic terms...UV Light will cause the melanin to react, darken & spread out on the skin. Thus a tan is created. The body naturally produces melanin...but kick starting the production using a tanning pill will work. Note: This same ingredient is also in almost all indoor tanning accelerators that are available for purchase when visiting a tanning salon. Whether applied topically or ingested, it basically works the same.
