Because they were born with different skin tones, one black and one white, their mother has no trouble recognizing them apart, even though they’re identical twins.
Daniel and David Omeron were born only a few minutes apart, but they couldn’t be more dissimilar in appearance. Despite the fact that their parents, Stacy and Babajid, 38, are both black, David was born with pure white skin and golden hair, while his brother Daniel, like his parents and four-year-old sister Demolade, has black skin and dark curly hair. Daniel is the opposite.
The reason for this is that tiny David is albino, meaning that his skin and hair lack color as a result of a congenital lack of melanin. The twins, who both have lovely brown eyes, get a lot of attention whenever they step out into the streets of Lagos, Nigeria.
When the twins are out and about, their mother Stacy, a fashion designer, says they’re regarded as celebrities, and people frequently inquire as to whether both children are hers. Stacy expressed herself as follows: “When we’re out and about, I’m required to answer questions all the time. People have asked me, ‘Pardon me, madam, which one of your children is yours?’ I simply state that both of them are mine, and people react as if I’m fooling around. However, even as their mother, I was taken by surprise when they were born. When the doctor informed me that my children are not similar, I was unsure of what to anticipate. Then I noticed that they had different colored hair and complexion, which I couldn’t believe, so I’m not surprised that other people are as startled as I am.”
The fair-haired brother, David, and his dark-skinned brother, Daniel, were born on February 26th in Lagos, Nigeria. After giving birth to her twins through a cesarean section, Stacy remembers the moment she laid eyes on her one-of-a-kind children for the first time. She was completely unaware that they had distinct skin tones until they were born. “It took me completely by surprise,” she added. “Daniel was the first to arrive, and the nurse informed us that the second baby had golden hair. I was perplexed as to how this was possible. When I peered down, I saw David, who was entirely cloaked in white. I invited my husband into the room so he could see what we were up to. I couldn’t make out what was being said. He too couldn’t believe what he was seeing. They’re really gorgeous, and we felt as if we’d been blessed with a miracle. This is something I’ve never seen before in Nigeria. To be completely honest, I’ve never witnessed anything like this before.”
Despite the fact that they appear to be brothers, their hair and skin are radically different. Nurses and doctors crowded to Stacy’s bedside to photograph the newborns, according to her. She claimed that several medics had never seen anything like it before. The question is asked: “Pardon me, madam, which one of the children is yours?”
One in every 20,000 births is affected by a disorder known as oculocutaneous albinism, and David was born with this condition. There are no statistics available on how many sets of twins are born each year in which one has albinism; however, similar cases have been documented in the Netherlands and Mozambique in recent years. After four days in the hospital, Stacy and the twins were released from the facility. She also received a lot of positive feedback when she brought the tots to friends and relatives for the first time. “They’re great, and they’re quite popular in our family,” Stacy expressed her admiration for them. “They’re so gorgeous and adorable, and they’re adorable in the eyes of everyone who sees them.”
Stacy considers herself fortunate to be the mother of Daniel and David, who, despite their evident physical differences, share a similar sense of humor and enjoy playing together. The twins are best friends, and they enjoy dancing with their father, Babajid, who works in a printing company. When they’re out and about in Lagos, they’re treated as local celebrities, according to Stacy, who has stated that people frequently approach her and ask her questions on the street. “A lot of people have never seen anything like it before, and as a result, they’ve become pretty popular. Whenever I go to the bank or to the store, everyone wants to say hello to me. I can’t say I blame them; they’re both lovely and adorable. I’ve never received any unfavorable comments, and I’m not concerned about what other people think of me,” she stated. “It gives me immense pleasure to be their mother. To me, it doesn’t make a difference what color their skin is since they’re my children. The only thing that matters is that I have my boys with me.”
It’s believed that David may be one of the only albino newborns born in Lagos because of the rarity of oculocutaneous albinism in African countries. Her memories include instances in which women have confided in her that they would pray at night in hopes of one day giving birth to twins like Daniel and David. “It’s not every day that you get to meet babies like Daniel and David,” Stacy explained. “Everyone appreciates them, and I myself adore them. It’s an honor to be their mother since they’re a unique breed of twins. I believe that I’ve been blessed, and I’m extremely proud of them.”
A modeling agency headquartered in the United Kingdom has contacted Stacy about possible photo shoots. She said, “I’m really excited, although plans are still in the early stages.” She indicated that a prospective trip to England has already been considered. Stacy’s looking forward to spending her first Christmas at home with her parents, Daniel and David, as well as the rest of her siblings, nieces, and nephews.
A population geneticist at the University of Edinburgh, Jim Wilson, told the BBC, “We’re seeing a lot of it. Our skin color is influenced by a number of gene variants—at the very least 20 variants and probably quite a few more after that—that are passed down through our families. Some of these genes are known to us, while others are unknown. For each of these genes that has an impact on the color of our skin, there are usually two or more variants available to us, one of which produces a darker skin tone, and the other which produces a lighter skin tone. It reminds me of a deck of playing cards. Consider the following scenario: you’re in a casino and have been dealt a hand of cards, some of which will be black and some of which will be red.”
What exactly is albinism?
Albinism is a genetic condition that affects the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. Despite the fact that it’s a lifelong condition, it does not worsen with time. Those who suffer from albinism have either a reduced amount of melanin or no melanin whatsoever. This can affect their skin tone as well as their vision. White or extremely light blonde hair is common among those who have albinism; however, some have brown or ginger hair as well. The particular shade of their skin is determined by how much melanin their bodies generate. It’s also characteristic of albinism to have very pale skin that burns quickly in the sun and does not generally tan.
Problems with the eyes:
Eye disorders might occur as a result of a decreased level of melanin. This is due to the fact that melanin plays a role in the formation of the retina, which is a thin layer of cells located in the back of the eye. The following are examples of possible eye disorders associated with albinism:
- Short- or long-sightedness as well as low vision are all conditions associated with poor eyesight.
- Sight loss that cannot be corrected.
- It’s possible to have astigmatism of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If the cornea or the lens is not precisely curved or is of an atypical shape, it results in impaired vision.
- When the eyes are sensitive to light, this is called photophobia.
- When the eyes move involuntarily from side to side, it’s called nystagmus.
- When the eyes are pointed in different directions, it’s called strabismus.
Some young toddlers with albinism appear clumsy due to their lack of muscle tone. The reason for this is that people who have vision impairments may have difficulty performing certain activities, such as picking up an object. As kids grow older, this should become more apparent.
How albinism is passed down through families:
The two most common kinds of albinism are as follows:
- Skin, hair, and eyes are all affected by oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), which is the most common kind.
- Ocular albinism (OA) is a rarer kind of albinism that mostly affects the eyes.
The inheritance pattern is autosomal recessive. Almost all kinds of OCA, as well as some types of OA, are inherited through an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. This means that in order for a child to be born with albinism, they must inherit two copies of the gene that causes the disorder—one from each parent. A child with albinism has a 1 in 4 probability of being born to parents who both carry the gene. Carriers are not affected by albinism, but they can pass the gene onto their children.
The importance of X-linked traits:
Some forms of OA are passed down across generations in an X-linked pattern of inheritance. Boys and girls are affected differently by this pattern. Girls who inherit the albinism gene become carriers, whereas boys who inherit the gene will be born with albinism
. It’s estimated that one in every two daughters will be born with an X-linked form of albinism if their mother is a carrier. One in every two sons will be born with albinism, according to the odds. Because of the X-linked nature of albinism, when a father has it, his daughters will become carriers, whereas his sons will not have albinism and therefore will not be carriers.
Genetic counseling is available. Consult your primary care physician about obtaining a referral for genetic counseling if you have a family history of albinism or a child who is affected by the disorder. A genetic counselor is a professional who provides information, support, and counseling to those who have genetic disorders. For example, you can explain to them how you came to have albinism and the likelihood of passing it on to your children. It’s a lifelong condition, but it doesn’t worsen with time. According to the National Health Service, albinism is caused by defective genes that are passed down from one’s parents to their children. In the vast majority of cases, albinism is inherited through an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. This means that in order for a child to have the disorder, they must inherit two copies of the defective gene—one from each parent.
