Question: what causes albinism?

Priscilla Ngotho answered on 26 Sep 2014:

Hi 266heaa27

Albinism is a genetic disorder characterised by lack or reduced pigmentation in skin, hair and eyes. It is caused by a faulty gene that codes for an enzyme involved in production of a pigment called melanin which gives our skin, hair and eyes their colour. An albino cannot produce melanin and will have white skin and hair and reddish eyes. The genes involved in generation of the pigment are usually carried in two copies in each person. An individual can have one copy of the gene being faulty and one functioning correctly. Such people are called carriers and they have normal skin and hair pigmentation. You wouldn’t really differentiate a carrier from a non carrier. To get albinism both genes need to be faulty, for example a child would have to inherit two faulty genes, one from each carrier parent.

Albinos are ordinary people, the only difference is the lack of pigmentation. I’m sure you might have heard the false stories in the news of albinos being hunted because they are believed to have special powers. They have no special powers that can be used in witchcraft and they should be protected and treated like everybody else. Although albinos suffer from skin and eye problems with proper care they can live a healthy normal life.