Which statement describes albinism?

Which statement describes albinism?

• A. Higher risk of sun damage to skin and eyes.
• B. Absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes.
• C. Vision impairment in daylight.
• D. Increased melanin production in the skin.

Answer: (B)

Albinism is a condition where little or no melanin pigment is produced in the skin, hair, and eyes. Melanin gives color and helps protect tissues from UV light, so a lack of pigment results in very light skin, hair, and irises, which is the defining description. The other statements describe consequences or opposite processes: sun damage risk arises because pigment normally protects against UV, vision differences can occur with the condition, and increased melanin production is not what happens in albinism.

Albinism is a condition where little or no melanin pigment is produced in the skin, hair, and eyes. Melanin gives color and helps protect tissues from UV light, so a lack of pigment results in very light skin, hair, and irises, which is the defining description. The other statements describe consequences or opposite processes: sun damage risk arises because pigment normally protects against UV, vision differences can occur with the condition, and increased melanin production is not what happens in albinism.