Which type of inheritance does Albinism (type I) fall into?

• A. Autosomal Dominant
• B. Autosomal Recessive
• C. X-Linked Dominant
• D. Mitochondrial Inheritance

Answer: (B)

Albinism, particularly type I, is primarily an autosomal recessive condition. This means that an individual must inherit two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) in order to express the trait. In the case of albinism, the mutation affects the ability to produce melanin, the pigment responsible for coloration in the skin, hair, and eyes.

With autosomal recessive inheritance, carriers who have only one copy of the mutated gene do not show any symptoms of the condition themselves; they are phenotypically normal. However, when two carriers have children, there is a 25% chance that their offspring will inherit both mutated copies and therefore exhibit albinism.

This mode of inheritance is crucial for understanding not just albinism, but many genetic disorders that follow similar patterns. The awareness of how such traits are passed down through generations can also aid in genetic counseling for families with a history of the disorder.

Mitochondrial inheritance and X-linked inheritance involve different patterns of transmission, and autosomal dominant traits would require only one copy of the gene to express the condition, which does not apply to albinism type I. Thus, recognizing why albinism is autosomal recessive helps illustrate the fundamental