[School Essay][10th grade Healt]Research Paper on Albinism

Albinism
 The complication of human genetic codes augmented the possibilities of mutations or absence of genes to occur. In all the physical abnormal conditions caused by genetic maladies, the malfunction of pigment production resulted in insufficient melanin numbers during fetus stage is known as Albinism. One out of seventy (1/70) people carries an albinism gene, and one out of four (1/4) of their offspring will be born with albinism. This genetic disorder can present in any newborns regardless to their gender or ethnic background, in despite of unusual skin/hair/eye color, albino people do have normal life span only with a slightly higher chance of skin cancer, which fortunately is curable; development delay is not expected with the condition, as many had pursued wide range of successful careers.
 Children born with albinism can be easily identified by their lightened skin/hair/eye color into two types of albino classifications: oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and ocular albinism (OA). In the more common one, OCA, pigments are missing from the skin, hair, and eyes; OA occurs mainly in the eye, with normal hair and skin color. Affiliated genes are inherited from the parents; carriers would have normal appearance and no family history because it is an autosomal recessive inheritance. Children will only be born with albinism if they received an albinism gene from both parent; heterogenous and dominant homogenous carriers have one normal gene with one altered gene or two normal genes can still obtain enough DNA information to produce pigments.
 Pigments called melanin exist in human body to provide protections against UV ray, when exposed to sun shine, normal skin with enough amounts of pigments have a certain level resistance to the damaging UV ray, tanning means more pigments are produced for greater protection. The skin of albino organisms is much more sensitive to exposure of sunlight, without the pigments it has little to none protection against UV ray; because of this, people with albinism are always pale no matter how much exposure to sunlight they had, along with much greater chance to develop skin cancer. Also, the eyes need pigments to develop a normal vision; albino people usually have impairment vision due to the lack of melanin pigments during development, which cannot be corrected with glasses; vision range from normal, which is very rare, to nearly blind. Nystagmus and strabismus are common problems; the eyes can have uncontrollable movement and cannot fixate and track together. Other mild symptoms had showed up on individuals, such as blood clotting and minor hearing problems.
 Since albinism is technically a genetic disorder, cure is not possible because human genetic codes cannot be alternate once they start to develop. Treatment for the symptoms are available; skin should be protected with sunscreen, as the vision can be helped with glasses and dark lenses to reduce bright light which can be harmful to the eyes; bioptics are available for close up works, and surgery can be performed to partially correct the involuntary movement of the eye muscle.
 People with albinism are often discriminated or prejudiced due to their appearance, but besides their pale skin and hair, they are no different with albino-free individuals. The disorder does not cause any mental development delay, nor have any effect on the body organs including cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, genitourinary system, musculoskeletal system and immune system. In recent years, more and more people obtain the actual facts about albinism; decreased number in children born with it given up for adoption is the sign that shows as the medical science technology improves everyday the society becomes more educated on many disorders that had once been wrongfully understood; as for the albinism people, their options are only limited by their visual impairment, it is unfortunate to be born with it but it is their rights to have a normal life like an ordinary person. No discrimination should be made regard to the appearance, and the society should be more benevolent and understanding towards them. This article was written in inspiration of a couple I met during vacation several years ago, who had adopted a baby born with albinism. When being asked about their decision, they responded with blithe impression “It was a shame his [the baby] parents gave him up for adoption only because the appearance, because it does not change the fact that his is just a wonderful, charming child, we are thankful to have him as our son. If we can meet his biological parents someday, I will tell them: they missed out so much.”
By Lucille G.
Oct. 21, 2008
Works Cited
"Albinism." Medline Plus. Oct. 1998. U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health. 21 Oct. 2008 <http://medlineplus.gov/>.
"Information for People with Albinism." NOAH. 1995. National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. 21 Oct. 2008 <http://www.albinism.org/>.
King, Richard A., Gail C. Summers, James W. Haefemeyer, and Bonnie S. LeRoy. "FACTS ABOUT ALBINISM." International Albinism Center at the University of Minnesota. 16 Feb. 1996. University of Minnesota. 21 Oct. 2008 <http://albinism.med.umn.edu/>.