Albinism

Albinism is a congenital condition marked by the absence or near-absence of melanin pigment, producing pale or white hair and skin and eyes that often appear pink, red or violet because underlying blood vessels show through the iris. It arises from mutations affecting melanin synthesis, most commonly involving the TYR gene that codes for the enzyme tyrosinase, though many other genes can contribute to the trait across species. In humans and most mammals it follows a recessive inheritance pattern, occurring in roughly one of every 10,000 births, while related pigment loss appears far more often in birds. Beyond appearance, people with albinism frequently experience vision problems, including poor visual acuity and light sensitivity, caused by abnormal development of the eye during infancy.