Besides coloring the hair and skin, what other vital function does melanin support in ferrets?
Answer
Eye development and protection from light
Melanin performs several essential biological roles beyond simply providing aesthetic color to the hair shafts and skin tissues. Critically, melanin is integral to the proper development of the eyes. Furthermore, it plays an active role in protecting the sensitive structures of the eye from excessive light exposure. The absence of melanin in the iris, characteristic of albinism, directly leads to photophobia, or sensitivity to bright light, underscoring melanin's importance in visual health.
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