What is albinism?
– A Personal & Informal Presentation. • Albinism is a RECESSIVE condition, which means that each parent must carry one copy of the mutated gene in order for a child to be born with albinism. • One form of albinism is inherited from only one parent; however, this is quite rare. The parents of the child with albinism do not have to have albinism in order to pass the condition onto their offspring. • On the other hand, if one parent has some form of albinism while the other parent does not, there is only a 50% chance that the offspring of that couple will be born with the condition; however, the offspring will carry one copy of the gene and pass it onto his or her offspring. • Statistically, the chances of a child being born with albinism are 1 in 17,000; however, albinism is not specific to one race, gender or ethnic background. This is perhaps a controversial claim that may need further study, but it has been said that the occurrence of albinism is South Africa is much higher, where the
Albinism is a group of genetic conditions that causes a lack of pigment. It can effect only the eyes (ocular albinism) or both the eyes and skin (oculocutaneous albinism). Most types of albinism are inherited when an individual receives the albinism gene from both parents. The exception is one type of ocular albinism, which is passed on from mothers to their sons.
Albinism is a condition in which people have little or no melanin pigment (compound that creates colour) in their eyes, skin or hair. Because of this people with albinism look a little different from other members of their family without albinism. They have very fair skin which is prone to sunburn, their hair is white or a very light colour, and they may squint a lot as their eyes are sensitive to sunlight.
