Genetic and Color Abnormalities in Animals (includes humans)
(Source=Wikipedia)
1. Coloboma (Cat's Eye)
The condition of having a "hole" in the inner eye, giving the appearance of elongated puils.
Causes: Genetic Mutation
Health Effects: No known vision impairment
2. Albinism (Amelanism and Amelanosis)
A condition where the skin and hair is pale/completely white (in most cases) and often eyes are also red.
Causes: Inheritance of a recessive gene causing a lack of melanin
Health Effects: Sight impairment, skin sensitivity.
Other: Naturally, the only pure white wolves are arctic wolves. Albino wolves are a result of inheriting an albino gene somewhere along the line from a dog, as the gene was not originally present in natural wolf populations. Lions can be albino. Albinos in rural areas in Africa are often hunted for parts to be used by witchdoctors. True albino horses die shortly after birth.
3. Melanism (opposite of albinism)
The condition of having excess melanin causing dark skin/fur (nearly or completely black)
Causes: Inheritance of gene
Health Effects: Strengthens immune system due to increased absorption of vitamin D (sun rays)
Other: There is no such thing as a melanistic lion, as melanism is not present in all species of cat. There are a few photoshopped pictures circulating. Melanistic wolves developed (as with albinism) from inheriting a mutation found in domesticated dogs. Shown above is a "black panther". 'Panther' in itself means cat, hence scientific names such as "pantherus leo" for lion. A black panther is any kind of large cat with melanism, often known in leopards, jaguars, and pumas. Melanistic penguins are especially rare. Melanistic tigers are often seen with their backs being black.
4. Abundism (psuedo-melanism)
Another variant of pigmentation, characterized by dark spots or enlarged stripes, which cover a large part of the body of the animal, making it appear melanism. (Yes, you can have a zebra that's black with white stripes)
5. Aeumelanism/Hyperphaeomelanism
These coat colors are called "yellow" in mice and dogs, "red" in cattle and chestnut in horses.
6. Erythrism/Erythrochroism
Erythrism or erythrochroism refers to an unusual reddish pigmentation of an animal's fur, hair, skin, feathers, or eggshells.
7. Anisocoria
The condition of one pupil being larger than the other. May vary based on the lighting of the room.
Causes: There are many causes: Physiological anisocoria, Horner's syndrome, Mechanical anisocoria, Adie tonic pupil, Oculomotor nerve palsy.
Health Effects: Could be harmless or a symptom of a more serious disease.
8. Heterochromia iridis or Heterochromia iridum (literally "different colored eyes")
Condition of one eye being a different color than the other. It can be the result of disease or injury, but we will look at the naturally occurring form.
Causes: In this case, mozaicism or chimerism (both covered soon)
Health Effects: --------------------
9. Leucism (Piebald)
A condition in animals characterized by reduced pigmentation. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. Most have normal-colored eyes.
Causes: Inheritance of gene and/or mutation
Health Effects: -------------
10. Mozaicism
Condition where two different phenotypes of one gene (different alleles in one orgnaism) are shown. Aka there's more than one color where's there's normally only one.
Causes: Chimerism or mutation during mitosis (as opposed to meiosis)
Health Affects: ---------------------
Other: Above is shown a black and white picture of a lion cub. This cub was named "Ranger" and was the first solid proof of a partially black lion (his leg was mostly black). Attemps were made to breed him, but he was suspected to be sterile.
11.Chimerism (my favorite: last, but certainly not the least)
Ever heard of one twin "eating" the other in the womb? That happens. It is when the two twins merge into one. If the twins are identical, it is hard to detect and is different from chimerism. But if the twins are fraternal (genotypes that do not match), then they become a "chimera".
The mosaics above may or may not be chimeras. In humans, it is often difficult to tell when someone is a chimera as the different phenotypes are not always shown. However, cells from different parts of the body have different genetic codes. For example, your original DNA might be in your lungs, but your twin's absorbed DNA might be in your liver or upper left arm.
Chimerism is often a problem for people trying to find out who their baby belongs to, as DNA samples taken from different parts of the body will show different results.
Chimerism can also be the result of an organ transplant.
Chimeras often have no health side effects or visual abnormalities at all. But it does make you wonder about twins that can allegedly feel each other's pain or "read each other's minds". Are they both technically still individual people, sharing the same brain in the same person?
Epilogue
Well, I hoped you enjoyed that. I stumbled upon most of this when I wondered if the pictures of the melanistic lions were real (they weren't). If you have one of these conditions, or have one that I did not list, I do not mean to offend. I only wish to educate others about what they might see in their lives (or particularly, make part of their OC's. Sorry guys, but you can't have a black wolf that's not part dog somewhere along the line. Same with albinos and erythrics).
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