Albinism: characteristics, health implications, and social considerations

¶ … condition may affect those who posses this deformity.

Albinism is a genetic condition that disrupts the normal distribution of the coloring pigment in the human skin known as melanin. Fitzpatrick (1960) wrote "Albinism is an example of one type of metabolic block in which the enzymatic defect leads to a deficiency of the product, melanin. It may be seen in vertebrates ranging from brook trout to whales and man. The incidence in man is reported to be one in twenty-five thousand. Noah, the Noah who embarked in the Ark, was an albino."

There are different types of albinism that are present within the human gene pool. In some instances only part of the body or skin is affected with deficient amounts of melanin, in other more severe cases, the entire body is affected with the lack of skin coloration. The lack of enzymes in the melanin cause an absence of any color within the skin and prevents the person from being exposed to the normal experiences of those without the problem.

Albinism occurs more frequently in men than in women and nearly 1 in 17,000 have this skin condition. Most people born with this affliction are born to parents who do not have this condition, but the gene is recessive in nature. This means that in order to receive this trait, it must be able to receive the recessive gene, one from each parent.

Albinism may cause vision problems and they are more susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer due to the weak condition of their skin. The condition is noticed immediately after birth and the amount of pigmentation deficiency varies between albinos.