Albino Gorilla Mystery Solved

Snowflake, an albino gorilla that died 10 years ago, was the only known white gorilla that ever existed on Earth. The primate's unique color had long since pushed scientists to study more about his case.

Albino gorilla (Photo courtesy of Barcelona Zoo)

Now, researchers say they have solved mystery of the gorilla's rare pigmentation.

According to a research team at the Barcelona's Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Snowflake's albinism is a result of  inbreeding and his mother was most likely believed to be a niece who mated with her uncle.

In order to reach this conclusion, the team used genetic sequencing from the gorilla's blood samples. They found that 12.5 percent of Snowflake’s genetic make-up was very much identical making it increasingly likely that the albino gene, also known as SLC45A2, was transmitted to him by both his mother and father.

Dr. Tomas Marques Bonet, director of the research team, mentioned that in order to be albino, one organism has got to have two chromosomes with the mutation for albinism. He said that Snowflake's grandfather probably carried the recessive albino genes and two of his descendants who also carried recessive albino genes probably paired off.

The scientists added that this great discovery could also help explain the albinism in humans.

Snowflake was caught in Equatorial Guinea and was kept safe after hunters killed the rest of his family. He was then brought to the Barcelona Zoo where he stayed for 37 long years and attracted tourists and experts all over the world. He died in 2003 due to skin cancer.