Albinism

[maiforpeace]

I was reading this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/2 ... 72976.html and upon a little further inquiry learned the following:

In North America and Europe it is estimated that 1 in 20,000 people have some form of albinism. In Tanzania it is 5 times as common with 1 in 4,000 people being affected

http://tanzproject.org/about.html

I'm sorely ignorant of genetics and natural selection.

If albinism is hereditary, I find it strange that in a country that is very sunny, where the risk of skin cancer (and death) would be much higher, that the instance of albinism is much higher than in those countries where it's not so sunny. Wouldn't the numbers of people affected decline in places like Tanzania over time?

[Sisifo]

I was reading this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/2 ... 72976.html and upon a little further inquiry learned the following:

In North America and Europe it is estimated that 1 in 20,000 people have some form of albinism. In Tanzania it is 5 times as common with 1 in 4,000 people being affected

http://tanzproject.org/about.html

I'm sorely ignorant of genetics and natural selection.

If albinism is hereditary, I find it strange that in a country that is very sunny, where the risk of skin cancer (and death) would be much higher, that the instance of albinism is much higher than in those countries where it's not so sunny. Wouldn't the numbers of people affected decline in places like Tanzania over time?

There is the misconception that the black skin is relted to the sun, but it is more supported that it is a parallel symptom of a blood cell mutation that is resistant to malaria. Also albinism is parallel to a sickle cell mutation that is malaria resistant. You will find that it is present in all Malaria driven countries in a rate about 15 times superior that european countries. (1/4000 instead of 1/60.000)

[maiforpeace]

I was reading this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/2 ... 72976.html and upon a little further inquiry learned the following:

In North America and Europe it is estimated that 1 in 20,000 people have some form of albinism. In Tanzania it is 5 times as common with 1 in 4,000 people being affected

http://tanzproject.org/about.html

I'm sorely ignorant of genetics and natural selection.

If albinism is hereditary, I find it strange that in a country that is very sunny, where the risk of skin cancer (and death) would be much higher, that the instance of albinism is much higher than in those countries where it's not so sunny. Wouldn't the numbers of people affected decline in places like Tanzania over time?

There is the misconception that the black skin is relted to the sun, but it is more supported that it is a parallel symptom of a blood cell mutation that is resistant to malaria. Also albinism is parallel to a sickle cell mutation that is malaria resistant. You will find that it is present in all Malaria driven countries in a rate about 15 times superior that european countries. (1/4000 instead of 1/60.000)

I'm sorry. I warned you about my knowledge on the subject. You have to step back a few paces when you explain this to me.

I don't understand what you are saying.