First of all let me say that much of these questions are answered on a very technical scientific playing field. I think we are all on the same page when it comes to Amels in that they lack ALL melanin and where the black or brown pigment would be in a wild type animal we see white and the animal also expresses red eyes. The production of melanin is catalyzed by an enzyme called tyrosinase. I also think it has been determined that Amels lack this enzyme and therefore melanin is not produced or present in the animal. Now this is were the sticky part starts and I am in no way saying this is the gospel truth but just some of my understanding from reading about the tyrosinase enzyme. With hypo animals it seems that the catalytic workings of tyrosinase is somehow blocked or its completion of melanin production shortened. We therefore see an incomplete colored animal and depending on the level of completed catalyzation we may even see the red eyes show up that are normally associated with Amel animals. Really the eyes start red and the melanin is developed later in development?? In other words the tyrosinase never gets to the point were it adds melanin to the eye region. And so forth and so on with the variations of hypo animals. Then thru selective breeding we are able to pair up genes in similiar stages of melanin production. Animals like the "super hypos" are possibly a result of finally pairing the cleanest similiar mutant genes with incomplete melanin production. I think it is just a matter of everyone getting on the same nomenclature path. Amel is what we would call T- or tyrosinase minus. T or tyrosinase positive will produce an animal that has some melanin but I feel that T albino is not a good term and it seems that was picked up because of the red eyes or from the websters definition of albino saying an organism with deficient pigmentation. Anyway I have gone too long already and this is a tough subject to talk about in this setting. It would be easier to sit around the table and brainstorm and let everyone interject their knowledge on the subject. Lots still to be discovered and that is what drives us! Thanks for listening and comments welcomed.



Matt Woodhall

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