Thursday, May 10, 2012

Albino Animals

Albinism is a inherited disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin. Albinism results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and is known to affect all vertebrates, including humans.

 While an organism with complete absence of melanin is called an albino an organism with only a diminished amount of melanin is described as albinoid. An animal or plant with a marked deficiency in pigmentation.