What causes albinism?
Albinism occurs if there is little or no melanin pigment in the body.
How is melanin produced in the body?
The skin has special cells called melanocytes. These cells start to produce melanin when stimulated. After the production is completed, melanin is sent to the melanosome. The melanosomes transport melanin to the skin. The more melanin is produced, the darker the skin gets.
Melanin is produced especially on sunny days because it absorbs harmful rays of the sun and protects the body. That's why we tan when the weather is sunny.
As people with albinism cannot produce melanin, they don't tan but they become red. They pay attention to the clothes they wear and use sunscreen to protect their skin.
The primary effect of the melanin deficiency can be seen in the eyes. Albinism causes many eye problems. These problems include crossed eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision and involuntary eye movements.
Light sensitivity occurs as follows: The iris, the colored structure in the eye, shrinks when there is too much light and gets bigger when there is less light. The retina absorbs the excess light coming into the eye. The iris of people with albinism cannot shrink when there is too much light and more light enters the eye. The retina cannot absorb all of the light and as a result, light sensitivity occurs.
The eyes of people with albinism look red. It doesn't mean that they have red eyes! It is the reflection of the vessels in their eyes.
All organs of the people with albinism are healthy except the vision center of their brain.
Some animals only have melanin pigment in their skin. Others have different pigments besides melanin. Lack of melanin causes albinism in animals too.
Animals with albinism have white skin, hair and feathers. Unfortunately, the technology for people with albinism is not applicable for animals in nature. It is difficult for them to camouflage themselves because their skin is white.
For example, when crocodiles with albinism are born, they attract predators' attention and they are easily hunted.
It is believed that squirrels with albinism have the most comfortable life compared to other animals with albinism. This is because they move very quickly and hide between the trees!
Can plants have albinism? They can! The pigment named chlorophyll makes the plants green. The lack or absence of chlorophyll pigment in plants causes albinism. Plants that we are used to seeing green appear white.
Plants make their own food thanks to the chlorophyll. You may wonder about the relevance of food to our subject. Plants with albinism cannot make food without chlorophyll. For this reason, it's difficult for them to live. But plants help each other. They transfer food to other plants in need of food through their roots. Plants with albinism hold on to life in this way.
The best examples of them are redwoods. They reach a maximum height of about 20 meters. The location of many of them are kept secret because they are under protection.
