Albinism

Albinism

1. Symptoms

   • Usually apparent in skin, eye, and hair color
   • Skin is usually very pale
     • Many freckle like spots
   • Lack of pigment in the irises
     • Many vision problems
       • Myopia, Hyperopia, Photophobia

2. Genetics

   • Usually inherits 2 copies of mutated gene
     • 1 from each parent
     • These affect the production of Melanin
       • Melanin is what gives our hair, skin, and eyes color

3. Treatment

   • Little can be done to treat Albinism
     • More is done to relieve the symptoms
       • Such as avoiding exposure to sun and UV rays
         • Wearing prescription glasses
           • Or in severe cases, recieving laser eye surgery

4. Epidemilogy

   • Estimated that 1 in 17,000 people have Albinism
     • Albinism affects people of all racial backgrounds
       • Some forms more common in certain races
         • Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome
           • Is mostly found in people of Puerto Rican decent

5. Animals

   • Albinism is also commonly found in animals
     • Suvival rate for animals in the wild is low
       • They cannot camflouge from their predators or prey

6. Forms

   • Ocular Albinism
     • Affects only the eyes
     • Oculocutaneous Albinism
       • Affects eyes, hair, and skin
       • OCA1a
         • Have no pigment or tyrosinase
         • OCA1b
           • Have some pigment and tyrosinase

7. Melanin

   • Natural pigment
     • Found in humans and animals
       • Found in skin, hair, eyes, scales, feathers etc..