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Name: mark 
Status: other
Age: other
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 7/19/2005
Question:
A praying mantis landed on my arm today. Which is not unusual in Cyprus, But what struck me is that it was a Complete ALBINO! Pink eyes & very white skin. Is this normal as i have heard that there are no such thing as albino invertebrates

Replies:
Mark,

Albinism is a point mutation of one or more genes that control pigmentation, such as melanin in verts. Insects follow the same rules for mutations as any other organism.... and their pigment gene is no exception. Maybe not pink eyes but I have not heard of this invert rule. Albinism also occurs in many plants. I am not sure what broad comparative studies have been done with analyzing patterns of albinism in various species. Observed species have wide-ranging pigments involved, which could have different etiologies in expression. But as more and more species get their genes mapped/sequenced this should become an interesting project!

Lou Harnisch

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