What is Albinism and How is Inherited

Albinism is a lack of brown pigment – melanin, a person with such a feature called albinos. On the occurrence of albinism can also come in Africa, so in this case the black human is whiter than white human.

The coloration of the skin, hair, eyes, etc. in a human is the result of the interaction of the different substances in the body. One are substances that form the basis of future struggles, and another are the enzymes that act on that basis. If someone does not have one of these two substances or their relationship is disturbed, resulting albinism. The name derives from the Latin word albus, meaning white.

Albinos have eyes pink or red, because of red-blood in the retina of the eye. Eyes of albinos are very sensitive to light. That is why they are constantly flashing and hold the partially lowered eyelids.

The body hair and hair of Albinos are white. Even the tissues of the body are white, for example brain and spinal cord.

Let us mention that albinism exists not only in humans but also in all kinds of animals. He was found even in birds.

Albinism is partly can be inherited. Many people are not albinos, but passed on the traits of albinism to their children.

Albinos are probably white mice, rats and rabbits, which we all know. There are people who have seen a squirrel albinos, and even a giraffe albinos!

There are two basic forms of albinism, ocular-albinism and oculocutaneous. Ocular albinism is divided, with regard to the pattern of inheritance, on the two types: autosomal recessive, occurs equally in men and women, and autosomal recessive which is attached to the X-chromosome, with symptoms primarily occur in men.

In cases related to the X-chromosome, mothers carry the gene and pass it on to sons. Although mothers often have normal vision, though they held some small changes occur in the eyes that can determine an ophthalmologist. If a woman carries the gene, with each pregnancy probability is fifty-fifty chance that it will have a son with ocular albinism.

Oculocutaneous albinism involves the eyes, hair and skin. Each parent should carry the gene for this form, reflecting autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. This means that there is a one in four chance with each pregnancy that the baby will be born with albinism.