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The word \"albinism\" refers to a group of inherited conditions.People with albi

ID: 1672 • Letter: T

Question

The word "albinism" refers to a group of inherited conditions.People with albinism have little or no pigment in the eyes, skin,and hair (or in some cases in the eyes alone). They have inheritedfrom their parents an altered copy of a genes that does not workcorrectly. The altered gene does not allow the body to make theusual amounts of a pigment called melanin.
a. what gene(s) cause or contribute to the albinism? b. The disorder is characterized by a faulty enzyme, give thename of the enzyme that is defective. The word "albinism" refers to a group of inherited conditions.People with albinism have little or no pigment in the eyes, skin,and hair (or in some cases in the eyes alone). They have inheritedfrom their parents an altered copy of a genes that does not workcorrectly. The altered gene does not allow the body to make theusual amounts of a pigment called melanin.
a. what gene(s) cause or contribute to the albinism? b. The disorder is characterized by a faulty enzyme, give thename of the enzyme that is defective.

Explanation / Answer

There are many genes which are now scientifically proven to beassociated with albinism (or better: alterations of the genes). Allalterations, however, lead to an alteration of the melanin (pigment/ colouring) production in the body and the eyes. Melanin helpsprotect the skin from ultraviolet light coming from the Sun (seehuman skin color for more information). People with albinism lackthis protective pigment in their skin, and can burn easily fromexposure to the sun as a result. Lack of melanin in the eye oftenresults in problems with vision, as the eye will not developproperly without the pigment. I do hope this helps! :)