Derived from the Latin albus meaning white, albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to the absence or defect in an enzyme involved in a production of melanin. The condition results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and affects all vertebrates including humans. Albinism is also associated with a number of visual defects such as photophobia, nystagmus, and astigmatism. A lack of skin pigmentation makes an organism with albinism more susceptible to sunburn and skin cancers.
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(2011). Albinism. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_89
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_89
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