Nigerian artist reframes children with albinism as heroes

Genetics can dispel myths about albinism but science alone cannot end stigma

YouTube video by My Extraordinary Family

YouTube video by My Extraordinary Family

Nigerian artist reframes children with albinism as heroes

From unusual pigmentation to incomplete shedding, the rescued snake presents researchers with questions about genetic variation, its physical condition and the importance of scientific examination. A pale pink spectacled cobra rescued from a factory in Dhaka’s Demra area has sparked interest among researchers, who say the snake may have albinism but that scientific tests are needed to establish the cause of its unusual colouring. The snake, measuring about one foot in length, has a distinctly light pink body compared with the normal colouring of a spectacled cobra. Rescuers initially suspected that it could be affected by albinism, although it has not yet been established whether the unusual colour is the result of a rare genetic trait or another form of colour variation. Mohammad Noman, an associate researcher at the Venom Research Centre at Chattogram Medical College in southeastern Bangladesh, said albinism was one possible explanation based on an initial observation. Such a trait is relatively rare among snakes, he said, but the unusual colour alone does not justify considering the snake a new species. Its physical characteristics and the results of necessary tests would be required to determine its actual condition. Albinism is a genetic characteristic in which the production...