My Island: Pingelap Atoll
Pingelap is an atoll in the Pacific Ocean, part of Pohnpei state of the Federated States of Micronesia, consisting of three islands: Pingelap Island, Sukoru and Daekae, linked by a reef system and surrounding a central lagoon, although only Pingelap Island is inhabited. The entire system has a land area of 455 acres at high-tide, and is less than 2.5 miles at its widest point. The atoll has its own language, Pingelapese, spoken by most of the atoll's 250 residents.
Typhoon Longieki and Achromatopsia
In 1775, Typhoon Liengkieki swept through the island, killing 90% of the inhabitants and leaving only approximately 20 people. It is believed that one of the survivors, namely Nahnmwarki Mwanenised (the ruler at that time), was a carrier for complete achromatopsia (known on the island as maskun, meaning literally "not see" in Pingelapese), a recessive genetic disorder which causes total color-blindness in sufferers. All Achromats on this island nowadays can trace their ancestry to this male survivor. However, the achromatopsia disorder did not appear until the fourth generation after the typhoon, where 2.70% of the Pingelapese were affected. By generation 6, the incidence rose to approximately 4.92%. These statistics can be accounted for by inbreeding and two related concepts, the bottleneck effect and genetic drift. In the case of achromatopsia on the Pingelap Island, the achromatopsia mutation fluctuated immensely from generation 3 to generation 4 under an extreme form of genetic drift. Since achromatopsia is an autosomal recessive disorder, inbreeding between the descendants of Nahnmwarki Mwanenised (the typhoon survivor and Achromatopsia carrier) will result in an increased recessive allele frequency. As of today, the atoll is still of particular interest to geneticists because of the high occurrence of Achromatopsia; due to the small gene pool and rapid population growth, the disorder is now prevalent in almost 10% of the population. Here is a link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izSVbHoc4hU.
Typhoon Longieki and Achromatopsia
In 1775, Typhoon Liengkieki swept through the island, killing 90% of the inhabitants and leaving only approximately 20 people. It is believed that one of the survivors, namely Nahnmwarki Mwanenised (the ruler at that time), was a carrier for complete achromatopsia (known on the island as maskun, meaning literally "not see" in Pingelapese), a recessive genetic disorder which causes total color-blindness in sufferers. All Achromats on this island nowadays can trace their ancestry to this male survivor. However, the achromatopsia disorder did not appear until the fourth generation after the typhoon, where 2.70% of the Pingelapese were affected. By generation 6, the incidence rose to approximately 4.92%. These statistics can be accounted for by inbreeding and two related concepts, the bottleneck effect and genetic drift. In the case of achromatopsia on the Pingelap Island, the achromatopsia mutation fluctuated immensely from generation 3 to generation 4 under an extreme form of genetic drift. Since achromatopsia is an autosomal recessive disorder, inbreeding between the descendants of Nahnmwarki Mwanenised (the typhoon survivor and Achromatopsia carrier) will result in an increased recessive allele frequency. As of today, the atoll is still of particular interest to geneticists because of the high occurrence of Achromatopsia; due to the small gene pool and rapid population growth, the disorder is now prevalent in almost 10% of the population. Here is a link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izSVbHoc4hU.
Pingelap Atoll is part of the State of Pohnpei, FSM. It is another low lying coral atoll threatened by rising seas as a result of global warming. To help out with global warming, the Pingelapese people have made it that once a week be Green day. Which everyone must clean and pick up trash on the island. With no automobiles and motorcycles, many pingelapese do their work and carry loads of food to equipment with a cart called Riaka. The Island also has no electricity. Every home that has occupants have two solor panels to help them with light at night. Some for electrical fans, TV, and refrigerators.
The typhoon in 1775 destroyed and took most of the island and its people with it. The islanders having the common knowledge of what global warming will do to the island. The rising tide has destroyed their crops and water wells, killing animals and the vanishing of its sand, making the island more smaller.
