Black Albinos http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=d2n1kh9Wdlc&NR=1 Dec 1996 Shunned even by the victims of apartheid, black albinos in the new South Africa continue the daily struggle of living their lives. Human Geneticist, Jennifer Kromberg, is acutely aware of the problems faced by these social "aliens". Skin problems, cancer, eye disease and impotence are everyday ordeals when you're an albino. Often sent to schools for the handicapped or blind, albinos find themselves marginalized within a society already facing hardship. Having recently discovered the chromosomes responsible for this genetically inherited anomaly, scientists can now detect the exact defective gene. Anthony Ngwenga, of the Albino Organisation, helps these misfits assimilate themselves into society by organising seminars to banish myths that albinos are the product of incest or unable to die properly. Young mother, Mamoketi, cuddles her pale two year old son who wears a blue sunhat to protect against the harsh UV rays. With no albinos in her family, she was "shocked" when she gave birth to one. But hopefully with this new awareness campaign, her son's life will be easier than that of previous albino sufferers. albino animals and people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt7YO98OIv8&feature=related What Is Albinism? - A Personal & Informal Presentation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVTZT_pOVlg&feature=related Albinism is a RECESSIVE condition, which means that each parent must carry one copy of the mutated gene in order for a child to be born with albinism. One form of albinism is inherited from only one parent; however, this is quite rare. The parents of the child with albinism do not have to have albinism in order to pass the condition onto their offspring. On the other hand, if one parent has some form of albinism while the other parent does not, there is only a 50% chance that the offspring of that couple will be born with the condition; however, the offspring will carry one copy of the gene and pass it onto his or her offspring. Statistically, the chances of a child being born with albinism are 1 in 17,000; however, albinism is not specific to one race, gender or ethnic background. This is perhaps a controversial claim that may need further study, but it has been said that the occurrence of albinism is South Africa is much higher, where the instance is 1 birth in 4000, because

of inter-familial marriagescousins marrying cousins. The most common form of albinism is OCA1A, where a child has no pigment in the eyes, hair or skin. Due to this lack of pigmentation in the eyes, hair and skin, there are other factors that affect a person with albinism. Although a person with albinism can lead a perfectly normal life, he or she must take extra care when going out in the sun; the vast majority of people with albinism do not tan, their skin will burn if exposed to harmful ultraviolet rays. Eyesight is also affected because of albinism; the average eyesight of a person with albinism is 20/200, which in North America, translates to legal blindness. Granted, there are varying degrees of legal blindness, but as a general point of reference, it is safe to assume that every person with albinism has 20/200 vision. Because of the vision impairment, most people with albinism require special assistance in school. For more information on albinism, please visit: www.albinism.org and/or http://albinism.med.umn.edu/facts.htm ~*~ This Has Been A Flying Moose Production. Thank You For Watching! ~*~ Albino-So Insane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCppkabBh2A&feature=related