Through the last century there has been a steady progression in our 
understanding of the biology of melanin biosynthesis. Much of this work includes 
the analysis of coat color mutations of the mouse and albinism in man. Our 
understanding has been greatly enhanced in the last 10 years, as the molecular 
pathogenesis of albinism has been better understood. Different mutations of the 
tyrosinase gene (TYR) , and their association with oculocutaneous albinism type 
1 (OCA1) has provided insight into the biology of tyrosinase, including protein 
trafficking and structure/function analysis. Several questions still remain, 
including cryptic mutations that affect tyrosinase activity and the minimum 
amount of pigment required for normal optic development. The next 10 years 
should prove just as exciting as the last.