Albinos are ... Albinism is a congenital absence of melanin pigment

Sometimes people or animals that differ from their habitual image by their appearance are considered strange and avoided. Albinoes - this is the case. Who are these albinos and how are they different? Let's figure it out.

Having met a person with completely discolored skin, white hair and eyes with a pronounced red tinge, you can be scared. And after such an unexpected meeting in my head, the question arises: where does an anomaly arise, what is behind it, can I get infected and is there any treatment?

Albinism - what is it?

So who are these albinos? These are people or animals that have a genetic mutation. Briefly, there is no pigment in the body called melanin. Melanin - the word ancient Greek, meaning "black." It turns out that the living creature is disturbed by the concentration of this pigment, which leads to complete or partial discoloration of the skin, hair and eyes.

Melanins are complex molecules that are produced by skin cells called melanocytes. The chemical process that takes place in the cells triggers a specific protein - tyrosinase, and its formula is recorded in the DNA structure and is inherited. As a result of a genetic malfunction, a mutation appears in the body. One such type of mutation is the albino gene, which leads to a complete absence of enzyme production in the body.

So, let's sum up, albinos are living beings, whose organism has a gene mutation leading to the complete or partial production of melanin. Passed by heredity from both parents. Although the statistics for the defective gene obtained from both parents of an albino, one in four babies is born.

Children-albinos

How can I identify an albino child? Usually these children are very fair-skinned, it seems that the skin glows. Hair may appear gray, eyebrows and eyelashes completely white. Eyes are light blue or have no color at all, and then they look red. The reason for red eyes lies in the fact that the pigment is absent in the iris and, as a consequence, the capillaries that fill the cornea are visible. Even in one family, albino children, whose photos are shown below, can be carriers, but not all have albinism.

It must be said that albinism takes different forms and can be either complete or partial. In this case, complete albinism is not so common, according to statistics 1:20 000 people. Full or, as it is called, ophthalmic-cover albinism, affects all parts of the body, and the child is very different from other children. With partial or ocular albinism, only the eyes are affected.

Children-albinos because of the fact that they are very different from their peers, often suffer the most. They are called "white crows", they can be avoided or even harmed. The children of the Negroid race are particularly affected . Strong distinctive signs lead to all sorts of myths and misunderstandings from others.

Myths about albinos

Most often, myths spread where there are not enough literate people. Unfortunately, African tribes are subject to this and most people tend to fall under the influence of priests and magicians.

It is believed that parts of the body of an albino man serve as a talisman or are sacrificed as victims of various religious rituals. And hair, woven into fishing nets, supposedly can bring an incredible catch. This leads to the fact that albino children often suffer, they are the most unprotected half of the population.

On the African continent, albinism is most common. The reason lies in the social and cultural traditions. Marriage between one tribe leads to the transfer of the mutant gene from both parents to the child. Albinos have to create their own communities, which leads to marriages within them, albino children with such connections are born more often.

Problems with albinos

Problems with health in colorless people are much greater than those of ordinary people. In the first place, the eyes suffer. A person with eye albinism complains of photophobia, sensitivity, can develop both nearsightedness and hyperopia. The absence of a pigment leads to various eye anomalies, which are practically impossible to correct.

Skin in people with albinism is also very sensitive and prone to strong sunlight. To date, a lot of protective creams are made, without which people with very light skin simply can not do. As a result of the lack of melanin, the skin does not sunbathe, which can lead to skin cancer.

Albinos in the Animal Kingdom

White tigers, the magnificence of the white peacock, the beauty of the majestic white lion - all this evokes tenderness and captures with extraordinary beauty. And rarely anyone thinks that this is a gene mutation, these animals are albinos. In nature, it is rare to find such creatures, most of them spend their lives in zoos or national reserves.

What causes the anomaly among animals? The problem is that albino animals simply need protection. They are very visible to predators because of their bright white coloration. To hunt such an animal, and especially a predator, is a great difficulty, and as a result, such individuals are starving. The color of the animal usually takes part in attracting the mating partner, and the discolored males remain without a pair.

People and animals-albinos

For humans, albino animals are a magnet that beckons with its purity and whiteness. Often the natural coloring of animals frightens and makes you stop. But white color itself speaks for purity and tenderness. Therefore, man always tried to bring out animals of pure white color. For example, laboratory mice and rats are necessarily white.

In nature there is not only complete albinism, but there is also a partial discoloration. The albinos, the photos of which are given above, are of a strange color. This partial discoloration also fascinates the eye, and at the same time causes pity. Such a creature can survive only through the care of a person.

Rabbit-albino

Love of white color led to the fact that people began to cross different breeds of animals. So the rabbit-albino, now widespread all over the world, was bred. The breed was obtained in Germany by crossing a Belgian with a chinchilla. As a result of a long selection among albinos, the now-famous White giant was bred.

In nature, white rabbits are very rare. Their snow-white coloring too attracts the attention of predators, especially in the gray forest. To hide with such coloring is almost impossible, a bright white color attracts attention at a distance.

Albino as pets

Many people know and are afraid of black cats. About them, even songs are composed, various legends go about them and various signs are connected. But what do you think about snow-white kittens? The albino cats are very cute.

It should be recalled that the acquisition of such a pet entails a number of health-related consequences. Like most albinos, he may have problems with the eyes, as well as deafness and reduced immunity. What causes problems? Melanins, responsible for coloring the animal, are associated not only with the processes in the skin, but are also involved in other life systems. Deafness may be due to a lack of the enzyme or its complete absence.

The eyes of an albino cat can be either red or blue. With the blue color of the eyes, deafness usually develops, this is due, as already said, to the lack of an enzyme that participates in the structure of the animal's inner ear.

In nature, white cats are practically not found. As a result of low immunity and problems with hearing and sight, such animals quickly die.

Albinism as a disease

Let's try to sum up all that has been said. People suffering from genetic diseases are vulnerable and need sympathy and understanding. But the disease (the albino is the result of a malfunction in the body) brings a lot of inconvenience, and sometimes, suffering. This problem is inherited from parents to children, and the child becomes ill only if both parents are carriers of the mutant gene.

Children often suffer from peer attacks. Teenage boys are particularly vulnerable. Girls can also make up for themselves, but only glasses and red eyes can tell about a mutation . To protect the skin these people need to use sunscreen. And basically the problem of albinism is social.

With animals, everything is exactly the same, the mutation gene is inherited. But in nature such individuals usually do not survive long. Found animals in nature, these animals are usually transported to zoos, where they spend their rest of life. Also this mutation is used to produce certain breeds. For example, white rabbits, cats and even individual breeds of dogs. And once, white tigers were specially brought out to work in the circus. But such animals are particularly in need of care and proper care.

The disease does not respond to treatment, it is associated with a gene mutation, and the myths that it is possible to get sick is just a fairy tale. People need to understand that everyone who is different from us in skin color or eyes needs compassion and our participation. They should not be hermits and closed only in their world. Love and respect breeds reciprocal feelings.