skin color question

Describe how having darkly pigmented skin may have provided an advantage in survival and reproduction to people thousands of years ago in some places in the world but not in others

• Darkly pigmented skin likely provided an advantage in regions with high UV radiation, such as near the equator, by protecting against sunburn, skin cancer, and the breakdown of folate, which is vital for reproduction.

• This protection helped with survival and reproductive success in these areas.

• In contrast, in regions with lower UV radiation, lighter skin allowed for better synthesis of vitamin D in areas with less sunlight, offering an evolutionary advantage for survival and reproduction.

Describe how having lightly pigmented skin may have provided an advantage in survival and reproduction to people thousands of years ago in some places in the world but not in others

• Lightly pigmented skin provided an advantage in regions with low UV radiation, such as farther from the equator, by allowing more efficient production of vitamin D from limited sunlight.

• This helped with bone health and immune function, which were crucial for survival and reproduction.

• In contrast, in areas with high UV radiation, lighter skin would have been less protective against sun damage and could have led to higher risks of sunburn and skin cancer, which is why darker skin evolved in those regions.