The cause of albinism is a mutation in one of several genes. Each of
these genes provides the chemically coded instructions for making one of
several proteins involved in the production of melanin. Melanin is
produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found in your skin and
eyes. A mutation may result in no melanin production at all or a
significant decline in the amount of melanin.
In most types of albinism, a person must inherit two copies of a mutated
gene — one from each parent — in order to have albinism (recessive
inheritance). If a person has only one copy, then he or she won't have
the disorder.
Albinism generally can't be prevented. It often occurs in families who
have no history of the disorder. However, in cases where parents suspect
that they may be carriers because of a family history, genetic testing
may help identify whether or not both parents carry a certain genetic
mutation that could cause albinism in their children. In addition, if
both parents know they are carriers, prenatal tests can be done to
determine if a fetus has inherited the mutations that can cause
albinism.
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| Thelma and Doris Bernal — twin albinos - LINK |
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| Thelma and Doris Bernal — twin albinos |
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| Albino Parvez kids on holiday. The Parvez family are the world's biggest albino family living in the UK - LINK |
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| Albino siblings in Tanzania - LINK |
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Albino family at Kalyan India. By GLOSACK on Flickr
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| Albino family in Pushkar, India. Photo credit: Amy Lyne |
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| Albino family of beggars gather in Gokarn sidewalk in south india for the coming Shivaratry festival. By urikrishna on Flickr |
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| This family sits every day in the bright sun at the Puskar Camel Festival begging. Photo credit: Gloria Williams |
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| Albino family at the Pushkar Camel Fair. By GLOSACK on Flickr |
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| The world's largest albino family in the UK - LINK |
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