Table of Contents
Why did humans develop different skin colors?
People have different skin colors mainly because their melanocytes produce different amount and kinds of melanin. The genetic mechanism behind human skin color is mainly regulated by the enzyme tyrosinase, which creates the color of the skin, eyes, and hair shades.
Why are Inuit people tan?
“Only after humans learned fishing, and therefore had access to food rich in vitamin D, could they settle regions of high latitude.” Additionally, in the spring, Inuit would receive high levels of UV radiation as reflection from the snow, and their relatively darker skin then protects them from the sunlight.
Why is skin darker near the equator?
Darker skin absorbs more light and reflects less light, so it has lower reflectance than lighter skin, which absorbs less light and reflects more. At the equator (0 degrees latitude), the percent of light reflected by the skin is lowest. This shows that skin is darkest at the equator.
What are some other things melanin does for our body other than giving us skin coloring?
In addition to providing pigmentation for the cells, melanin also absorbs harmful UV rays and protects against cellular damage from UV light exposure. Melanin levels are generally determined by genetics, but they can be influenced by outside sources, such as sun exposure, hormones, or even age.
What are the three pigments that contribute to skin color?
The color of skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis.
Why do Arctic people have dark skin?
This makes the Inuit population an exception of the latitude-correlated distribution of skin color. One possible reason is that the dark skin could protect the Inuits from the severe UV exposure because of the long daylight hours in winter and high levels of UV reflection from the snow.