Albinism is a genetic disorder characterized by little or no production of melanin pigment, resulting in pale skin, hair and eyes. It is caused by a recessive allele that prevents the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme needed to produce melanin from the amino acid tyrosine. There are two main types: oculocutaneous albinism affecting the eyes, skin and hair, and ocular albinism only affecting the eyes. Treatments include protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen to prevent sun damage.

2. Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by
complete or partial absence of pigments in hair ,
skin and eyes.
Albinism is caused by a genetic lack of melanin
Melanin is synthesized from the amino acid
tyrosine
Tyrosinase breaks down tyrosine
People with albinism have been passed down a
nonfunctional tyrosinase allele, which does not
allow them to produce melanin

3. TYPES OF ALBINISM
In humans there are two main types of albinism:
OCULOCUTANEOUS affecting the eyes, skin and hair
OCULAR affecting the eyes only.

4. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Number of visual defects such as photophobia ,
nystagmus and astigmatism
Lack of skin pigmentation making more susceptible to
sunburn and skin cancer
Absence of normal pigments in eyes resulting in pale
blue or red eyes

5. GENETICS OF ALBINISM
Most forms of albinism are the result of biological
inheritance of genetically recessive alleles passed
from both parents to an individual.
Organisms can be carriers of genes for albinism
without exhibiting any traits,albinistic offspring can be
produced by two non-albinistic parents.

6. If we represent dominant allele for albinism as B and
recessive allele as b than we can justify by the help of
this test cross that two normal parents can have an
albino child:
XBXb (Mother) XBY(Father)
1 2 3 4
XBXB XBXb XBY XbY
Normal male Affected male
Key:
Normal female Carrier female

7. Albinism in animals
Albinism has been observed in many animals also.

8. TREATMENT OF ALBINISM
There are few possible
treatments such as,
Ultra violet protective clothing,
sunglasses and sunscreen SPF 15
or higher

9. INCIDENCE OF ALBINISM
The international average for albinism is about 1
in 20,000.
There are some incidences where albinism is
more than 10 times more prevalent, these take
place in south western native American tribes.
This is said to be so prevalent due to one single
carrier.