Albinism is best described as which of the following?

• A. Autoimmune destruction of melanocytes
• B. Genetic disorder that results in little or no melanin production
• C. A bacterial infection
• D. Excessive keratin production

Answer: (B)

Albinism is a genetic condition where pigment production by melanocytes is severely reduced or absent. Melanocytes are present in the skin, but mutations—most often in the gene for the enzyme tyrosinase or other parts of the melanin synthesis pathway—prevent the normal production of melanin. This leads to very light skin, hair, and eye color, and can cause vision issues because melanin also plays a role in the development of the retina. It’s a pigment-production problem rooted in genetics, not an autoimmune attack on pigment cells, an infection, or excess keratin.