Why are so many genes involved? To make each kind of melanin, your cells have to carry out several chemical steps. Specifically, differences in genes that are involved in making melanin. (Image via Shutterstock)Īlbinism is caused by genetic differences. They have special pigment-producing granules inside called melanosomes. Cells called melanocytes make your pigment. Other types of albinism just have less melanin production. Some forms of albinism lead to almost no melanin production. ![]() ![]() People with albinism don’t make melanin in the same way. Melanin comes in two different forms - pheomelanin (the red kind) and eumelanin (the brown kind). Melanin is just a pigment, or colored chemical substance, like the ones that are used to dye your clothes or maybe even your hair! What is albinism?Īll of our coloring - our skin, hair, and eye colors - comes from melanin. People with this condition have a red-bronze skin color, ginger-red hair, and blue or brown eyes. There’s one type in particular that causes red hair in people with African ancestry: rufous albinism (or “OCA3 albinism”). Most people with albinism have blue eyes.) (And pink eyes are extremely rare in humans. But the reality is different! Albinism comes in many different varieties, and can look different on different people. When people think of albinism, they may picture people with white hair, pale skin and pink eyes. Except when people are of mixed ancestry, red hair in Africans is usually caused by a kind of albinism. ![]() A redhead of African descent is pretty rare.
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