Human Skin Color Variation and Evolution

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture on human skin color variation and evolution.

Melanin

A pigment in the skin responsible for color; protects against UV radiation.

UV Radiation

Ultraviolet light from the sun that can cause skin damage.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Pheomelanin

A type of melanin that is reddish-yellow, more common in lightly pigmented individuals.

Eumelanin

A type of melanin that is brown-black, predominant in darker-skinned individuals.

Reflectometer

A device used to measure skin color by analyzing the light reflected from it.

Folate

A B vitamin essential for normal embryonic development, which can be broken down by UV light.

MC1R Gene

A gene linked to pigmentation that influences the production of eumelanin and pheomelanin.

Human Variation

Differences among humans that include skin color, based on genetic and environmental factors.

Evolutionary Balancing Act

The process of adapting traits like skin color to balance protection from UV and vitamin D synthesis.