Oculocutaneous albinism is the most common form of albinism. Oculocutaneous albinism affects the eyes, hair and skin. The most severe form of oculocutaneous albinism causes the hair and skin of a person to remain pure white throughout life. The less severe form of oculocutaneous albinism causes a person to be born with white hair and skin which turns slightly darker as they age. Everyone with oculocutaneous albinism experiences abnormal flickering eye movements called nystagmus and experience sensitivity to bright light. Other problems caused by oculocutaneous are poor vision and crossed or “lazy” eyes which is called strabismus.
This is a link giving a comparison of vision between a person with albinism and a person without albinism:
http://www.womenfitness.net/r_img2/albinism.jpg.
This is a link to a picture of a person with oculocutaneous albinism:
http://health.moonlightchest.com/images/albinism.jpg.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Hereditary Information
Albinism is hereditary which means it is not an infectious disease and cannot be transmitted through blood or contact. Albinism is caused by a flaw or defect in one or more of the genes that are responsible for producing melanin. Melanin is basically the pigment that gives color to skin, hair and eyes.
If both parents each carry the defected or flawed gene, they have a 1 in 4 chance of passing both copies of the defected or flawed gene to the child which means the child would have albinism.
There are 10 different types of albinism, each affecting different genes.
This is a link of a picture showing the chances of parents who carry the defected genes passing the defected genes on to their children: http://www.womenfitness.net/r_img2/albinism3.jpg.
This is a link that gives information about the type of albinism and the gene each affect:
http://albinismdb.med.umn.edu/.
If both parents each carry the defected or flawed gene, they have a 1 in 4 chance of passing both copies of the defected or flawed gene to the child which means the child would have albinism.
There are 10 different types of albinism, each affecting different genes.
This is a link of a picture showing the chances of parents who carry the defected genes passing the defected genes on to their children: http://www.womenfitness.net/r_img2/albinism3.jpg.
This is a link that gives information about the type of albinism and the gene each affect:
http://albinismdb.med.umn.edu/.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Introduction:
Albinism is a condition that causes lack of pigment that gives color to the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is caused by an inherited gene from either both parents or in some rare cases from only one parent. Albinism is rare in the United States and Europe affecting only 5 people per 100,000 people, where as in Southern Nigeria it affects 20 people per 100,000 people. There are 2 common types of Albinism called “oculocutaneous” albinism and “ocular” albinism.
Albinism is a condition that causes lack of pigment that gives color to the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is caused by an inherited gene from either both parents or in some rare cases from only one parent. Albinism is rare in the United States and Europe affecting only 5 people per 100,000 people, where as in Southern Nigeria it affects 20 people per 100,000 people. There are 2 common types of Albinism called “oculocutaneous” albinism and “ocular” albinism.
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