DOCSLIB.ORG

Abnormal Plumage Survey: an Update

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Abnormal Plumage Survey: an Update Abnormal Plumage Survey: an update Dunnock wing-flicking, by John Harding The BTO Abnormal Plumage Survey, which is exploring plumage irregularities of garden birds, has now received well over 1,000 records, involving 48 species. Here, the BTO’s Tim Harrison is joined by Hein van Grouw, an expert on plumage colouration, from the Natural History Museum. We have received Perhaps the most obvious plumage While these broad categorisations have reports of birds abnormalities are those that involve some proved useful when recording birds at showing abnormal form of white feathering, either just a few distance in gardens, there are subtleties to plumage from white feathers on an otherwise black bird discover. across Britain & or an individual that is completely white Ireland. (such as the Dunnock pictured above). EXPLORING WHITE BIRDS Over three-quarters of the sightings A common misnomer for a bird with a few reported through the BTO Abnormal white feathers is ‘partial Albino’. This is a Plumage Survey have been categorised contradiction in terms; an individual is either as ‘Leucistic’, with Blackbirds and House Albino or it is not. Albinism is characterised Sparrows most frequently spotted. We have by a total lack of melanin pigments (i.e. used the term ‘Leucism’ to describe plumage black, grey and brown) due to an inherited abnormalities where feathers become paler absence of an enzyme that catalyses melanin or turn white unexpectedly, but where production. Albino individuals are totally eyes retain their normal dark colour. The white unless carotenoid pigments (i.e. pale latter feature has been used to distinguish yellow to scarlet red) are also present. An Leucistic birds from Albinistic ones, which Albino adult Goldfinch, for example, would have red or pink eyes, owing to blood being be white all over, except for its red face and gold wing bars. visible through colourless tissue. (back) Grouw and Hein van Tim Harrison (front) 14 Bird Table Spring 2012 Seeing an adult Albino in the wild is Leucism itself is an inherited absence Additional detail on very unlikely, since bad eyesight (one of of pigment cells, and can be total (causing the results to date the consequences of Albinism) means that whiteness of the whole plumage) or partial can be found via survival prospects are poor. It is also worth (causing whiteness in just parts). The white www.bto.org/gbw. noting that an apparently Albino bird might pattern is present throughout a bird’s life Alternatively, send be confused with an ‘Ino’ individual. In an and does not change with age. Far more a stamped, self- Ino individual melanin is still produced but common than Leucism is Progressive addressed envelope it loses its dark qualities. An Ino can appear Greying, which is acquired rather than to APS results, white all over and has reddish eyes, but its inherited. Progressive Greying sees the GBW, The Nunnery, eyesight is much better than an Albino’s and progressive loss or failure of pigment cells Thetford, Norfolk, so an adult bird matching this description is with age, although this can also be caused IP24 2PU. almost certainly an Ino not an Albino. by physical disorders. From the onset of the condition, the bird will gain increasing LEUCISM numbers of white feathers after every moult. ‘Leucism’, as we have used the term in our Should the bird live long enough, it will survey, should really be broken down into eventually be all-white. Progressive Greying a number of distinct types of abnormality. is particularly common in Blackbirds, House While Leucism, from the Greek Leukos, Sparrows and Jackdaws but is difficult to means ‘white’, amongst birdwatchers the distinguish from Leucism without knowing definition has drifted from white feathers to the history of the individual. include pale, washed-out colouration. The latter, however, is caused by other heritable WHAT NEXT? aberrations, of which ‘Brown’ and ’Diluted’ Please keep sending in your records and are the most common. In Brown, changes in photographs to the Abnormal Plumage the appearance of melanin pigments cause Survey, as these help us to clarify black feathers to turn brown. These, in turn, abnormality types in greater detail, identify are easily bleached by sunlight, causing which species are affected most often and them to turn whitish. Dilution, whereby where these birds are being found. Visit reduced melanin production causes www.bto.org/gbw to take part online, or individuals to appear washed out, might ‘phone 01842-750050 for a paper form. also cause confusion. Clockwise from top left: Brown House Sparrow (Martin Goodey); Progressive Greying Blackbird (Finlay Dowell); Progressive Greying House Sparrow (John Harding); Diluted Robin (Donna McGhee) Spring 2012 Bird Table 15.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Natural Skin‑Whitening Compounds for the Treatment of Melanogenesis (Review)
    EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE 20: 173-185, 2020 Natural skin‑whitening compounds for the treatment of melanogenesis (Review) WENHUI QIAN1,2, WENYA LIU1, DONG ZHU2, YANLI CAO1, ANFU TANG1, GUANGMING GONG1 and HUA SU1 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine; 2School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China Received June 14, 2019; Accepted March 17, 2020 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8687 Abstract. Melanogenesis is the process for the production of skin-whitening agents, boosted by markets in Asian countries, melanin, which is the primary cause of human skin pigmenta- especially those in China, India and Japan, is increasing tion. Skin-whitening agents are commercially available for annually (1). Skin color is influenced by a number of intrinsic those who wish to have a lighter skin complexions. To date, factors, including skin types and genetic background, and although numerous natural compounds have been proposed extrinsic factors, including the degree of sunlight exposure to alleviate hyperpigmentation, insufficient attention has and environmental pollution (2-4). Skin color is determined by been focused on potential natural skin-whitening agents and the quantity of melanosomes and their extent of dispersion in their mechanism of action from the perspective of compound the skin (5). Under physiological conditions, pigmentation can classification. In the present article, the synthetic process of protect the skin against harmful UV injury. However, exces- melanogenesis and associated core signaling pathways are sive generation of melanin can result in extensive aesthetic summarized. An overview of the list of natural skin-lightening problems, including melasma, pigmentation of ephelides and agents, along with their compound classifications, is also post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation (1,6).
    [Show full text]
  • Dermatologic Manifestations of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome in Patients with and Without a 16–Base Pair Duplication in the HPS1 Gene
    STUDY Dermatologic Manifestations of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome in Patients With and Without a 16–Base Pair Duplication in the HPS1 Gene Jorge Toro, MD; Maria Turner, MD; William A. Gahl, MD, PhD Background: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) con- without the duplication were non–Puerto Rican except sists of oculocutaneous albinism, a platelet storage pool de- 4 from central Puerto Rico. ficiency, and lysosomal accumulation of ceroid lipofuscin. Patients with HPS from northwest Puerto Rico are homozy- Results: Both patients homozygous for the 16-bp du- gous for a 16–base pair (bp) duplication in exon 15 of HPS1, plication and patients without the duplication dis- a gene on chromosome 10q23 known to cause the disorder. played skin color ranging from white to light brown. Pa- tients with the duplication, as well as those lacking the Objective: To determine the dermatologic findings of duplication, had hair color ranging from white to brown patients with HPS. and eye color ranging from blue to brown. New findings in both groups of patients with HPS were melanocytic Design: Survey of inpatients with HPS by physical ex- nevi with dysplastic features, acanthosis nigricans–like amination. lesions in the axilla and neck, and trichomegaly. Eighty percent of patients with the duplication exhibited fea- Setting: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, tures of solar damage, including multiple freckles, stel- Bethesda, Md (a tertiary referral hospital). late lentigines, actinic keratoses, and, occasionally, basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. Only 8% of patients Patients: Sixty-five patients aged 3 to 54 years were di- lacking the 16-bp duplication displayed these findings.
    [Show full text]
  • Aberrant Colourations in Wild Snakes: Case Study in Neotropical Taxa and a Review of Terminology
    SALAMANDRA 57(1): 124–138 Claudio Borteiro et al. SALAMANDRA 15 February 2021 ISSN 0036–3375 German Journal of Herpetology Aberrant colourations in wild snakes: case study in Neotropical taxa and a review of terminology Claudio Borteiro1, Arthur Diesel Abegg2,3, Fabrício Hirouki Oda4, Darío Cardozo5, Francisco Kolenc1, Ignacio Etchandy6, Irasema Bisaiz6, Carlos Prigioni1 & Diego Baldo5 1) Sección Herpetología, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Miguelete 1825, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay 2) Instituto Butantan, Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, Butantã, CEP 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil 3) Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Travessa 14, Rua do Matão, 321, Cidade Universitária, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 4) Universidade Regional do Cariri, Departamento de Química Biológica, Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioprospecção Molecular, Rua Coronel Antônio Luiz 1161, Pimenta, Crato, Ceará 63105-000, CE, Brazil 5) Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Felix de Azara 1552, CP 3300, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina 6) Alternatus Uruguay, Ruta 37, km 1.4, Piriápolis, Uruguay Corresponding author: Claudio Borteiro, e-mail: [email protected] Manuscript received: 2 April 2020 Accepted: 18 August 2020 by Arne Schulze Abstract. The criteria used by previous authors to define colour aberrancies of snakes, particularly albinism, are varied and terms have widely been used ambiguously. The aim of this work was to review genetically based aberrant colour morphs of wild Neotropical snakes and associated terminology. We compiled a total of 115 cases of conspicuous defective expressions of pigmentations in snakes, including melanin (black/brown colour), xanthins (yellow), and erythrins (red), which in- volved 47 species of Aniliidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, and Viperidae.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Birds | Summer 2021 | Vol
    PROFESSOR’S CORNER Learning to Discern Color Aberration in Birds By Christy Carello Professor of Biology at The Metropolitan State University of Denver Melanin, the pigment that results in the black coloration of the flight feathers in this American White Pelican, also results in stronger feathers. Photo by Peter Burke. 148 Colorado Birds | Summer 2021 | Vol. 55 No.3 Colorado Birds | Summer 2021 | Vol. 55 No.3 149 THE PROFESSOR’S CORNER IS A NEW COLORADO BIRDS FEATURE THAT WILL EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF ORNITHOLOGICAL TOPICS FROM HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION TO PHYSIOLOGY, REPRODUCTION, MIGRATION BEHAVIOR AND BEYOND. AS THE TITLE SUGGESTS, ARTICLES WILL BE AUTHORED BY ORNI- THOLOGISTS, BIOLOGISTS AND OTHER ACADEMICS. Did I just see an albino bird? Probably not. Whenever humans, melanin results in our skin and hair color. we see an all white or partially white bird, “albino” In birds, tiny melanin granules are deposited in is often the first word that comes to mind. In feathers from the feather follicles, resulting in a fact, albinism is an extreme and somewhat rare range of colors from dark black to reddish-brown condition caused by a genetic mutation that or even a pale yellow appearance. Have you ever completely restricts melanin throughout a bird’s wondered why so many mostly white birds, such body. Many birders have learned to substitute the as the American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull and word “leucistic” for “albino,” which is certainly a Swallow-tailed Kite, have black wing feathers? This step in the right direction, however, there are many is due to melanin.
    [Show full text]
  • Amino Acid Disorders
    471 Review Article on Inborn Errors of Metabolism Page 1 of 10 Amino acid disorders Ermal Aliu1, Shibani Kanungo2, Georgianne L. Arnold1 1Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA Contributions: (I) Conception and design: S Kanungo, GL Arnold; (II) Administrative support: S Kanungo; (III) Provision of study materials or patients: None; (IV) Collection and assembly of data: E Aliu, GL Arnold; (V) Data analysis and interpretation: None; (VI) Manuscript writing: All authors; (VII) Final approval of manuscript: All authors. Correspondence to: Georgianne L. Arnold, MD. UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Suite 1200, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. Email: [email protected]. Abstract: Amino acids serve as key building blocks and as an energy source for cell repair, survival, regeneration and growth. Each amino acid has an amino group, a carboxylic acid, and a unique carbon structure. Human utilize 21 different amino acids; most of these can be synthesized endogenously, but 9 are “essential” in that they must be ingested in the diet. In addition to their role as building blocks of protein, amino acids are key energy source (ketogenic, glucogenic or both), are building blocks of Kreb’s (aka TCA) cycle intermediates and other metabolites, and recycled as needed. A metabolic defect in the metabolism of tyrosine (homogentisic acid oxidase deficiency) historically defined Archibald Garrod as key architect in linking biochemistry, genetics and medicine and creation of the term ‘Inborn Error of Metabolism’ (IEM). The key concept of a single gene defect leading to a single enzyme dysfunction, leading to “intoxication” with a precursor in the metabolic pathway was vital to linking genetics and metabolic disorders and developing screening and treatment approaches as described in other chapters in this issue.
    [Show full text]
  • Albinism: Modern Molecular Diagnosis
    British Journal of Ophthalmology 1998;82:189–195 189 Br J Ophthalmol: first published as 10.1136/bjo.82.2.189 on 1 February 1998. Downloaded from PERSPECTIVE Albinism: modern molecular diagnosis Susan M Carden, Raymond E Boissy, Pamela J Schoettker, William V Good Albinism is no longer a clinical diagnosis. The past cytes and into which melanin is confined. In the skin, the classification of albinism was predicated on phenotypic melanosome is later transferred from the melanocyte to the expression, but now molecular biology has defined the surrounding keratinocytes. The melanosome precursor condition more accurately. With recent advances in arises from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Tyrosinase molecular research, it is possible to diagnose many of the and other enzymes regulating melanin synthesis are various albinism conditions on the basis of genetic produced in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, matured in causation. This article seeks to review the current state of the Golgi apparatus, and translocated to the melanosome knowledge of albinism and associated disorders of hypo- where melanin biosynthesis occurs. pigmentation. Tyrosinase is a copper containing, monophenol, mono- The term albinism (L albus, white) encompasses geneti- oxygenase enzyme that has long been known to have a cally determined diseases that involve a disorder of the critical role in melanogenesis.5 It catalyses three reactions melanin system. Each condition of albinism is due to a in the melanin pathway. The rate limiting step is the genetic mutation on a diVerent chromosome. The cutane- hydroxylation of tyrosine into dihydroxyphenylalanine ous hypopigmentation in albinism ranges from complete (DOPA) by tyrosinase, but tyrosinase does not act alone.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of Ocular Hypopigmentation in Rab38cht/Cht Mice
    ARTICLES Analysis of Ocular Hypopigmentation in Rab38cht/cht Mice Brian P. Brooks,1,2,3 Denise M. Larson,2,3 Chi-Chao Chan,1 Sten Kjellstrom,4 Richard S. Smith,5,6 Mary A. Crawford,1 Lynn Lamoreux,7 Marjan Huizing,3 Richard Hess,3 Xiaodong Jiao,1 J. Fielding Hejtmancik,1 Arvydas Maminishkis,1 Simon W. M. John,5,6 Ronald Bush,4 and William J. Pavan3 cht PURPOSE. To characterize the ocular phenotype resulting from and RPE thinning. The synergistic effects of the Rab38 and mutation of Rab38, a candidate gene for Hermansky-Pudlak Tyrp1b alleles suggest that TYRP1 is not the only target of syndrome. RAB38 trafficking. This mouse line provides a useful model for cht/cht METHODS. Chocolate mice (cht, Rab38 ) and control het- studying melanosome biology and its role in human ocular erozygous (Rab38cht/ϩ) and wild-type mice were examined diseases. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007;48:3905–3913) clinically, histologically, ultrastructurally, and electrophysi- DOI:10.1167/iovs.06-1464 ologically. Mice homozygous for both the Rab38cht and the Tyrp1b alleles were similarly examined. he analysis of mice that exhibit defects in coat coloration cht/cht RESULTS. Rab38 mice showed variable peripheral iris trans- T(coat color mutants) has aided in the identification of 1 illumination defects at 2 months of age. Patches of RPE hypo- genes important in eye, skin, and hair pigmentation. Many of pigmentation were noted clinically in 57% of Rab38cht/cht eyes these genes are mutated in patients with pigmentary anoma- and 6% of Rab38cht/ϩ eyes. Rab38cht/cht mice exhibited thin- lies.
    [Show full text]
  • Case Report: a Black and White Twin
    Journal of Perinatology (2010) 30, 434–436 r 2010 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved. 0743-8346/10 www.nature.com/jp PERINATAL/NEONATAL CASE PRESENTATION Case report: a black and white twin MJ Claas, A Timmermans and HW Bruinse Department of Obstetrics, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min of 8 and 9 and 10 and 10, respectively. Albinism is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by a defective At physical examination, great differences between child I and synthesis of melanin, resulting in a generalized reduction of pigmentation child II were noticed. Child I appeared to have a light brown skin, in the skin, hair and eyes, and leading to an increased risk of skin cancer black curly hair and brown eyes, whereas the second child had a and vision problems. We report a case of a 22-year-old primigravida of striking white skin, red-blond curly hair and blue eyes (Figure 1). Negroid origin who delivered dichorial diamniotic twins: two daughters were An explanation for the great difference in appearance between born with a totally different appearance. The first child had a light brown the two children could be heteropaternity. Wenk et al.1 reported skin, black curly hair and brown eyes, whereas the second had a striking three cases of heteropaternity in a large parentage test database and white skin, red-blond curly hair and blue eyes. Oculocutaneous albinism quoted a frequency of 2.4% for such cases among dizygotic twins (OCA) and heteropaternal superfecundation were considered in the whose parents were involved in paternity suits.
    [Show full text]
  • Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) Metabolism 3
    The Objectives [lecture 4] Inborn Errors of 1. Phenylketonuria (PKU) Amino Acid 2. Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) Metabolism 3. Albinism 4. Homocyteinuria 5. Alkaptonuria Red = Green = Blue = Import- addition explain ant notes Med432 Biochemistry Team / Done By : Rehab Mosleh ,Ethar Alqarni and Haifa Aldabjan Reviewed by : Abdullah alatawi , Saleh alneghamishi Med432 Biochemistry Team Inborn Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism Maple Syrup Urine Phenylketonuria Disease Albinism Homocyteinuria Alkaptonuria Classical phenylalanine Deficiency of branched chain Cystathionine β-synthase Tyrosinase deficiency hydroxylase deficiency α-ketoacid dehydrogenase deficiency Homogentisic acid oxidase Atypical Tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency Med432 Biochemistry Team Inborn Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism Caused by enzyme loss or deficiency due to gene loss or gene mutation Normal amino acid metabolism Cofactors Enzyme + Substrate Product But if there are any deficiency of either enzyme or cofactor There will be abnormality of amino acid metabolism There are five examples for these abnormality: 1. Phenylketonuria (PKU) 2. Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) 3. Albinism 4. Homocyteinuria 5. Alkaptonuria Amino acid phenylalanine Med432 Biochemistry Team involved Phenylketonuria (PKU) types Cause Due to deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme Classic PKU Atypical hyperphenylalaninemia Duo to deficiency of Duo to deficiency of cofactor enzyme Due to deficiency of BH4 Due to deficiency of Conversion of Phe to Tyr requires 1)CNS symptoms: phenylalanine hydroxylase symptoms tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) Hence Phenylalanine is Mental retardation, failure to walk or Even if phenylalanine hydroxylase level accumulated talk, seizures, etc. is normal, the enzyme will not function 2)Hypopigmentation without BH4 Deficiency of melanin deficiency of BH4Caused by the Hydroxylation of tyrosine by deficiency of: tyrosinase is inhibited by high phe Dihydropteridine reductase conc.
    [Show full text]
  • Repositioning of Nitisinone to Treat Oculocutaneous Albinism
    Informed reasoning: repositioning of nitisinone to treat oculocutaneous albinism Prashiela Manga, Seth J. Orlow J Clin Invest. 2011;121(10):3828-3831. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI59763. Commentary Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of genetic disorders characterized by hypopigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes. Affected individuals experience reduced visual acuity and substantially increased skin cancer risk. There are four major types of OCA (OCA1–OCA4) that result from disruption in production of melanin from tyrosine. Current treatment options for individuals with OCA are limited to attempts to correct visual problems and counseling to promote use of sun protective measures. However, Onojafe et al., reporting in this issue of the JCI, provide hope for a new treatment approach for OCA, as they demonstrate that treating mice that model OCA-1b with nitisinone, which is FDA approved for treating hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, elevates plasma tyrosine levels, and increases eye and hair pigmentation. Find the latest version: https://jci.me/59763/pdf commentaries Informed reasoning: repositioning of nitisinone to treat oculocutaneous albinism Prashiela Manga and Seth J. Orlow Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of genetic disorders characterized Melanin synthesis and its disruption by hypopigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes. Affected individuals experi- in OCA ence reduced visual acuity and substantially increased skin cancer risk. There Tyrosinase, a type I membrane protein, are four major types of OCA (OCA1–OCA4) that result from disruption in catalyzes the first and rate-limiting reac- production of melanin from tyrosine.
    [Show full text]
  • Microbial Production of Melanin Pigments from Caffeic Acid and L-Tyrosine Using Streptomyces Glaucescens and FCS-ECH-Expressing Escherichia Coli
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Article Microbial Production of Melanin Pigments from Caffeic Acid and L-Tyrosine Using Streptomyces glaucescens and FCS-ECH-Expressing Escherichia coli Soo-Yeon Ahn 1,†, Seyoung Jang 2,†, Pamidimarri D. V. N. Sudheer 3 and Kwon-Young Choi 1,2,4,* 1 Environment Research Institute, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; [email protected] 2 Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, College of Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; [email protected] 3 Amity Institute of Biotechnology, AMITY University Chhattisgarh, Raipur 493558, India; [email protected] 4 Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Gyeonggi-do, Korea * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-31-219-1825 † These authors contribute equally to this work. Abstract: In this study, synthetic allomelanin was prepared from wild-type Streptomyces glaucescens and recombinant Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strains. S. glaucescens could produce 125.25 ± 6.01 mg/L of melanin with a supply of 5 mM caffeic acid within 144 h. The ABTS radical scavenging capacity of S. glaucescens melanin was determined to be approximately 7.89 mg/mL of IC50 value, which was comparable to L-tyrosine-based eumelanin. The isolated melanin was used in cotton fabric dyeing, and the effect of copper ions, laccase enzyme treatment, and the dyeing cycle on dyeing performance was investigated. Interestingly, dyeing fastness was greatly improved upon treatment with the laccase enzyme during the cotton dyeing process. Besides, the supply of C5-diamine, which was reported to Citation: Ahn, S.-Y.; Jang, S.; Sudheer, P.D.V.N.; Choi, K.-Y.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Albinism?
    INFORMATION ABOUT ALBINISM What Is Albinism? Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and/ or eyes. Albinism occurs in all racial and ethnic groups throughout the world. In the U.S., approximately one in 18,000 to 20,000 people has some type of albinism. In other parts of the world, the occurrence can be as high as one in 3,000. Most children with albinism are born to parents whose hair and eye color are typical for their ethnic backgrounds. A common myth is that people with albinism have red eyes. Although lighting conditions can allow the blood vessels at the back of the eye to be seen, which can cause the eyes to look reddish or violet, most people with albinism have blue eyes, and some have hazel or brown eyes. There are Photo courtesy of Positive Exposure, Rick Guidotti different types of albinism and the amount vision in a variety of ways and are able to of pigment in the eyes varies. However, perform innumerable activities such as vision problems are associated with all reading, riding a bike or fishing. Some have types of albinism. sufficient vision to drive a car. Vision Considerations Dermatological Considerations People with albinism have vision problems Because most people with albinism that are not correctable with eyeglasses, have fair complexions, it’s important to and many have low vision. It’s the abnormal avoid sun damage to the skin and eyes development of the retina and abnormal by taking precautions such as wearing patterns of nerve connections between sunscreen or sunblock, hats, sunglasses and the eye and the brain that cause vision sun-protective clothing.
    [Show full text]