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Tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism among the Zuni and the Brandywine triracial isolate: Biochemical and clinical characteristics and fertility
Author(s) -
Witkop Carl J.,
Niswander Jerry D.,
Bergsma Donald R.,
Workman Peter L.,
White James G.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330360311
Subject(s) - albinism , melanosome , oculocutaneous albinism , melanin , offspring , biology , plumage , obligate , photophobia , fertility , tyrosinase , physiology , zoology , pregnancy , genetics , medicine , botany , population , biochemistry , environmental health , neuroscience , enzyme
Zuni albinos develop increased pigmentation in hair and eyes, and decreased nystagmus and photophobia with age. Hair bulbs cultured in l‐tyrosine produced pigment. Ultrastructure of melanocytes demonstrated a predominance of Stage II and early Stage III premelanosomes that readily converted to mature Stage IV melanosomes after incubation in 1‐tyrosine. Eleven obligate heterozygotes failed to demonstrate diaphanous irides. Data on the fertility of Zuni and Brandywine male albinos did not indicate that they had more offspring than pigmented males. As the physical features of this form of albinism overlap those of many normal Caucasians, it is probably not a particularly deleterious trait with high selective value under the recent conditions of Zuni life.