Why does albinism exist?
Albinism results from the inheritance of recessive alleles. The condition is known to affect mammals (including humans), fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians. 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 genes that are passed on from both parents, although some rare forms are inherited from only one parent.