A Glimpse Into Albinism

Nearly one in every 17,000 people has some form of albinism and the United States has reported over 18,000 such cases. Sufferers of albinism exhibit very little or have no pigment in their skin, eyes and hair. Strangely enough, parents of those who have this condition in most cases have hair, eye and skin color that are typical of their race and it is rare for there to be a family history of it (Haefemeyer 55-56). Sufferers of albinism have inherited a malfunctioned and altered copy of their parent’s gene that codes for melanin production. This is most commonly known as autosomal r

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In fact, none of the eye problems associated with albinism can be cured, but can be reduced to a comfortable level. Therefore, they are much more susceptible to sun burns and skin cancers. The time period has a lot to do with acceptance of albinism by the general population. The iris is another feature of the eye affected by albinism. The most common and obvious is sunscreen, preferably over a SPF of 15 or greater. Third world countries desperately need the assistance from technologically advanced nations to educate them so that they can take the proper precautions associated with albinism. This can be attributed to the decreased depth perception “albinos” experience. The lack of melanin in the iris allows for the passage of light while a normal iris is opaque to light. Faulty eye to brain nerve connections can also result in a condition common to “albinos” known as Nystagmus (Witkop 2905). In “albinos,” a lack of melanin during early developmental stages results in incorrect fovea development, reducing the “sharpness” of their vision. The brain, the musculoskeletal system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, and the cardiovascular system are not adversely affected by the melanin reduction that accompanies albinism (Haefemeyer 60).

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 1383
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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