AmelanismAmelanism (also known as amelanosis) is a pigmentation abnormality characterized by the lack of pigments called melanins, commonly associated with a genetic loss of tyrosinase function. Amelanism can affect fish, amphibians, reptiles (including birds), and mammals including humans. The appearance of an amelanistic animal depends on the remaining non-melanin pigments. The opposite of amelanism is melanism, a higher percentage of melanin.
Waardenburg syndromeWaardenburg syndrome is a group of rare genetic conditions characterised by at least some degree of congenital hearing loss and pigmentation deficiencies, which can include bright blue eyes (or one blue eye and one brown eye), a white forelock or patches of light skin. These basic features constitute type 2 of the condition; in type 1, there is also a wider gap between the inner corners of the eyes called telecanthus, or dystopia canthorum.
PiebaldismPiebaldism refers to the absence of mature melanin-forming cells (melanocytes) in certain areas of the skin and hair. It is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of melanocyte development. Common characteristics include a congenital white forelock, scattered normal pigmented and hypopigmented macules and a triangular shaped depigmented patch on the forehead. There is nevertheless great variation in the degree and pattern of presentation, even within affected families.
Chédiak–Higashi syndromeChédiak–Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that arises from a mutation of a lysosomal trafficking regulator protein, which leads to a decrease in phagocytosis. The decrease in phagocytosis results in recurrent pyogenic infections, albinism, and peripheral neuropathy.
Biological pigmentA biological pigment, also known simply as a pigment or biochrome, is a substance produced by living organisms that have a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments. Many biological structures, such as skin, eyes, feathers, fur and hair contain pigments such as melanin in specialized cells called chromatophores. In some species, pigments accrue over very long periods during an individual's lifespan.
XanthochromismXanthochromism (also called xanthochroism or xanthism), from the Greek xanthos (ξανθός) "yellow" and chroma (χρὣμα) "color", is an unusually yellow pigmentation in an animal. It is often associated with the lack of usual red pigmentation and its replacement with yellow. The cause is usually genetic but may also be related to the animal's diet. The opposite of xanthochromism, a deficiency in or complete absence of yellow pigment, is known as axanthism.
DepigmentationDepigmentation is the lightening of the skin or loss of pigment. Depigmentation of the skin can be caused by a number of local and systemic conditions. The pigment loss can be partial (e.g. injury to the skin) or complete (as in vitiligo). It can be temporary (e.g. from tinea versicolor) or permanent (e.g. from albinism).
AnimalBiological kingdomAnimals are multicellular, eukaryoticorganisms belonging to the biologicalkingdomAnimalia (). Animals consume organic material, breathe oxygen, have muscle cells, can reproduce sexually, and grow from a hollow sphere of cells, the blastula, during embryonic development. With few exceptions, animals are able to move. Animals form a clade, meaning that they arose from a single common ancestor.
Isabelline (colour)Isabelline ( ), also known as isabella, is a pale grey-yellow, pale fawn, pale cream-brown or parchment colour. It is primarily found in animal coat colouring, particularly plumage colour in birds and, in Europe, in horses. It also has historically been applied to fashion. The first known record of the word was in 1600 as "isabella colour"; this use later became interchangeable in literature with "isabelline" after the latter was introduced into print in 1859.
AxanthismAxanthism is a mutation that interferes with an animal's ability to produce yellow pigment. The mutation affects the amount of xanthophores and carotenoidvesicles, sometimes causing them to be completely absent. Erythrophores and iridophores, which are responsible for red coloration and light reflecting pigments respectively, may also be affected. Axanthism is most obvious in green animals, specifically amphibians, making them appear blue.
VitiligoVitiligo ( VIT-ih-LY-goh) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes skin to lose pigment (specifically melanin, which gives the skin color) in patches that vary in size and can appear anywhere on the body. The development of vitiligo is linked to aberrant attachments between melanocytes (which produce melanin) and laminins, an extracellular protein. The disorder is thought to be caused by immune system changes with potential genetic factors.
MelanophilinMore reference expression dataBioGPSEnsemblUniProtRefSeq (mRNA)RefSeq (protein)Location (UCSC)Chr 2: 237.49 – 237.56 MbChr 1: 90.84 – 90.88 MbPubMed searchWikidataMelanophilin is a carrier protein which in humans is encoded by the MLPHgene. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but the full-length nature of some of these variants has not been determined.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.