Life of Snowflake, the Lone Albino Gorilla Recognized
Snowflake, a Western lowland gorilla, was born on October 1, 1966, in the jungle of Nkó, Equatorial Guinea. He was the only known albino gorilla in recorded history, a distinction he held until his passing in 2003.
Snowflake's unique appearance brought him international fame, earning him a place in various media outlets, including the cover story of the March 1967 edition of National Geographic. He was renamed "Copito de Nieve" or "Floquet de Neu," meaning "Snowflake" in Spanish and Catalan, respectively, when he arrived at the Barcelona Zoo, where he spent the latter part of his life.
The cause of Snowflake's death was a rare form of skin cancer, likely linked to his lack of pigmentation. Individuals with albinism, including Snowflake, are highly susceptible to skin cancer due to a lack of melanin, which protects skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Snowflake's gene pool revealed significant inbreeding, which increased the likelihood of albinism in his offspring. Despite his bad temper, he fathered at least 21 offspring with three different females and had several grandchildren.
Snowflake was diagnosed with non-syndromic oculocutaneous albinism, a genetic condition that affects pigment production. This condition also caused problems with his eyesight. Albinism is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning both parents must carry the recessive gene for their offspring to inherit the condition.
The most likely scenario for Snowflake inheriting the recessive albinism gene is that his grandfather carried it. To date, only two documented cases of albinism exist among great apes: Snowflake and Alba, an orangutan. Alba now lives freely in the jungles of Borneo after spending part of her life in captivity.
In 2013, scientists sequenced Snowflake's genome to identify the genetic cause of his albinism. This research has provided valuable insights into the genetics of albinism in great apes and other species.
While Snowflake remains the only known albino gorilla, his story serves as a reminder of the unique and diverse world of wildlife that exists, even within our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.
- The study of Snowflake's evolution in biology has shed light on the genetic causes of albinism in great apes, contributing to the advancement of medical-health and wellness research.
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