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prettygoodwordleucism or leukism (LYUU-kizm) - n., (Biol.) a genetic condition characterized by reduced pigmentation.
In contrast to albinism, where there's a complete absence of pigmentation, and melanism, there's there's an excess of pigmentation. Albinos are generally white with colorless eyes, leucistic animals pale (or even nearly white) with normal eyes, and melanistic animals are dark (or even black). There's also erythrism where there's an excess of red pigment, resulting in red hair and ruddy skin, and xanthism, excess yellow pigment. Leucism was coined from Greek root leukos, white -- the -k- variant being taken directly from it, the -c- variant from the Latin borrowing.
---L.
In contrast to albinism, where there's a complete absence of pigmentation, and melanism, there's there's an excess of pigmentation. Albinos are generally white with colorless eyes, leucistic animals pale (or even nearly white) with normal eyes, and melanistic animals are dark (or even black). There's also erythrism where there's an excess of red pigment, resulting in red hair and ruddy skin, and xanthism, excess yellow pigment. Leucism was coined from Greek root leukos, white -- the -k- variant being taken directly from it, the -c- variant from the Latin borrowing.
---L.
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Date: 2013-06-02 08:59 pm (UTC)