Biology

French geneticist Jerome Lejeune is the person who discovered Cri-du-Chat syndrome in 1963. He is also the one who discovered the genetic basis of Down syndrome. Lejeune observed that babies born with this particular syndrome exhibit a distinctive monotonous, high-pitched cry resembling that of a cat’s. He named the disorder as “Cri-du-Chat”, the French for [...]

Ocular albinism is an inherited genetic disorder in which the eyes lack melanin, the substance that gives pigmentation to the irises (colored part of the eye), skin, and hair. Unlike a person with oculocutaneous albinism, a person with ocular albinism has skin and hair that show normal or near-normal coloration. Eye pigmentation is important for [...]

Albinism is medically called hypopigmentary congenital disorder but it is also called by other names such as achromatosis, achromia, or achromasia. Albinism results from the complete or partial absence of the pigment melanin that provides color to skin, hair, and the eyes. People with albinism are called albinos; albino animals (e.g. snakes, birds) are also [...]

Enzymes are special type of protein produced by living cells. They act as organic catalysts that speed up the rate of biochemical reactions in any living organism. Enzymes are found from the smallest virus up to the largest oak tree in the planet. Enzymes are needed to carry out many body activities such as digestion, [...]