Albino
Albino
Albino (/ælˈbaɪnoʊ/) is a term used to describe organisms that lack pigmentation in their skin, hair, and eyes due to a deficiency in melanin production. The term is derived from the Latin word 'albus', which means 'white'.
Etymology
The term 'Albino' is derived from the Latin word 'albus', which means 'white'. It was first used in the 18th century to describe individuals with a lack of pigmentation in their skin, hair, and eyes.
Definition
An Albino is an organism that lacks the pigment melanin, which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. This condition can occur in all vertebrates, including humans, and is due to a mutation in one of several genes involved in the production of melanin.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of albinism is a lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. This can result in white or very light-colored skin and hair, and eye color that is typically a light blue but can be pink or red in some cases. Other symptoms can include vision problems such as nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), strabismus (crossed or misaligned eyes), and photophobia (sensitivity to light).
Related Terms
- Melanin: The pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes.
- Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence of a gene.
- Nystagmus: Involuntary eye movement.
- Strabismus: Crossed or misaligned eyes.
- Photophobia: Sensitivity to light.
See Also
- Oculocutaneous albinism: A form of albinism that affects the skin, hair, and eyes.
- Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome: A rare form of albinism that is accompanied by bleeding disorders and other health problems.
- Chediak-Higashi syndrome: A rare form of albinism that affects the immune system.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Albino
- Wikipedia's article - Albino
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