Which pigment's complete absence defines the appearance of an albino ferret?
Answer
Melanin
The defining characteristic of an albino mammal, including the ferret, is the complete inability to produce melanin. Melanin is the primary pigment responsible for determining color in the skin, fur, and eyes of most mammals. The lack of this crucial substance across the entire system results in the stark white coat and the pink/red eyes seen in these animals. While the process requires the amino acid tyrosine, melanin itself is the resulting pigment that is absent.
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