Albinism is caused by a genetic condition that prevents the body from producing enough melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives color to our skin, hair, and eyes. People with albinism have very light skin, hair, and eyes because they lack the necessary melanin.
Albinism is usually inherited from both parents. A child needs to inherit the gene for albinism from both their mother and father to develop the condition. This means that even if one parent has the gene, their child may not have albinism.
There are different types of albinism, each caused by a mutation in a different gene responsible for melanin production. For example, oculocutaneous albinism, the most common type, is caused by a mutation in the OCA2 gene.
Albinism is a rare condition affecting people of all races and ethnicities. While people with albinism may have vision problems, most are healthy and can live normal lives.
