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Researchers have pinpointed the genetic mutation is dogs that cause them to becopme albino.

The mutation, caused by a missing protein, causes albinism in Doberman pinschers.

Affected animals have a white or lighter-colored coat, pink noses and lips, along with pale irises in the eyes - similar to humans affected.

Albino Doberman pinschers: Affected animals have a white or lighter-colored coat, pink noses and lips, along with pale irises in the eyes - an researcher now know the genetic mutation that causes the effect.

The Michigan State University researchers say their discovery has eluded veterinarians and breeders worldwide up until now.

Paige Winkler, a doctoral student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, co-led the study with Joshua Bartoe, an assistant professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, and discovered a mutated gene that is associated with a form of albinism in humans.

'What we found was a gene mutation that results in a missing protein necessary for cells to be pigmented,' Winkler said.

'Some defects in this same gene cause a condition called oculocutaneous albinism in humans.'

This type of albinism has certain characteristics that are evident in both humans and dogs.

'With an albino Doberman, you see a white or lighter-colored coat, pink noses and lips, along with pale irises in the eyes,' Winkler said.

The canine breed and people also experience the same skin sensitivity to sunlight, which results in an increased risk of skin tumors.

The canine breed and people also experience the same skin sensitivity to sunlight, which results in an increased risk of skin tumors.

'We knew that the albino Dobermans typically developed these types of tumors, much like humans, but we wondered what the actual increase in prevalence was between a 'white' dog and a regular-colored Doberman,' Bartoe said.

'What we found was a significant increase in risk for development of melanoma-like tumors in the albino dogs.'

The eyes have it: The differences between a normal and Albino Doberman

Bartoe and Winkler studied 20 dogs of each color and discovered that more than half of the albino dogs had at least one tumor while only one of the regular-colored dogs possessed a tumor.

The results of their research could be of great importance to Doberman breeders around the world. Currently, American Kennel Club registration restricts dogs with the condition.

'Because Dobermans can carry the defective gene, but show no signs of the disorder, this has posed serious problems among breeders,' Bartoe said.

'But now that we've identified the mutation, we can look at the genetic makeup of these dogs and determine if they might be carriers.'