Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Albinism Among The Kuna Indians

Albinism is a recessive inherited defect in melanin metabolism in which pigment is absent from hair, skin, and eyes(oculocutaneous albinism) or just from the eyes(ocular albinism). The Kuna Indians have the highest rate of albinism of any community in the world. Roughly 1 in approximately 130 births is an albino child. Albinos are treasured in this society often being referred to as the 'golden ones' or 'moon children.' Tales tell that if a Kuna woman stares at the moon while she s pregnant, she will have a moon child. Kuna moon children are said to have special powers to save the village from an aclipse

Photo credit: Kike Calvo
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Photo credit: Todd Lawson
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