Derived from the Latin albus meaning white, albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to the absence or defect in an enzyme involved in a production of melanin. The condition results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and affects all vertebrates including humans.  Albinism is also associated with a number of visual defects such as photophobia, nystagmus, and astigmatism. A lack of skin pigmentation makes an organism with albinism more susceptible to sunburn and skin cancers.