Re: OK...someone explain to me...

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Posted by creaturemd on January 19, 2002 at 10:18:15:

In Reply to: OK...someone explain to me... posted by Mr. D on January 18, 2002 at 23:53:21:

Albinism is a lack of normal cell pigment. This does not mean the animal can't be exposed to sunlight. These animals still need normal UV exposure for vitamin manufacture and calcium uptake from the gut. In mammals, albinism, just like having a light complexion, leaves you at a higher risk for sunburn because normal skin pigmentation cannot shield you from the sun's rays. Reptiles have a more keratinized skin covering that isn't as prone to sunburn. Just because iguanas are green does not mean they are better equipped to benefit from sunlight. They're not plants and their green coloration cannot be equated with chlorophyll that plants require to process sunlight and nutrients into glucose for fuel. Lots of reptiles aren't green and manage just fine. The only health risk that might go along with being albino is an increased likelihood that these animals might also carry other, less desirable, recessive genetic traits. Albinism is recessive and for reasons that I'm not entirely sure of, animals that carry one recessive trait are more likely to carry others. May have something to do with inbreeding and magnification of recessive characteristics due to an increased likelihood that related animals will carry the same recessive genes. So anyway, barring that an albino animal just happens to have some other health threatening recessive condition, they should do just fine.

: Since I fully admit that I have no background in breeding or genetics whatsoever. If an animal that is dependant on the sun, and more directly ultraviolet rays, is born with the genetic traits for albinism wouldn't that animal naturally be extinguished in the wild since, in this case, albinism would be an extreme weakness in the animal's makeup? If I'm on the right track here, then how will it be possible to keep these "albino" iguanas healthy if they cannot be exposed to light? Or is this not a "true albino"?

: Incidently, the last price tag I saw on an albino was around $4000. I'm not too concerned about getting one personally as I know that some idiot will buy one without knowing how big it gets or how to care for it and, eventually, my phone will ring.

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Hmmm......ok.... Mr. D 01/19/02 (0)

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: Albinism is a lack of normal cell pigment. This does not mean the animal can't be exposed to sunlight. These animals still need normal UV exposure for vitamin manufacture and calcium uptake from the gut. In mammals, albinism, just like having a light complexion, leaves you at a higher risk for sunburn because normal skin pigmentation cannot shield you from the sun's rays. Reptiles have a more keratinized skin covering that isn't as prone to sunburn. Just because iguanas are green does not mean they are better equipped to benefit from sunlight. They're not plants and their green coloration cannot be equated with chlorophyll that plants require to process sunlight and nutrients into glucose for fuel. Lots of reptiles aren't green and manage just fine. The only health risk that might go along with being albino is an increased likelihood that these animals might also carry other, less desirable, recessive genetic traits. Albinism is recessive and for reasons that I'm not entirely sure of, animals that carry one recessive trait are more likely to carry others. May have something to do with inbreeding and magnification of recessive characteristics due to an increased likelihood that related animals will carry the same recessive genes. So anyway, barring that an albino animal just happens to have some other health threatening recessive condition, they should do just fine. : : : Since I fully admit that I have no background in breeding or genetics whatsoever. If an animal that is dependant on the sun, and more directly ultraviolet rays, is born with the genetic traits for albinism wouldn't that animal naturally be extinguished in the wild since, in this case, albinism would be an extreme weakness in the animal's makeup? If I'm on the right track here, then how will it be possible to keep these "albino" iguanas healthy if they cannot be exposed to light? Or is this not a "true albino"? : : Incidently, the last price tag I saw on an albino was around $4000. I'm not too concerned about getting one personally as I know that some idiot will buy one without knowing how big it gets or how to care for it and, eventually, my phone will ring.

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