The science of human skin color is deeply rooted in evolution and adaptation. Skin color is primarily determined by melanin, a pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin. Melanin serves as a natural defense against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can damage skin cells and cause mutations leading to skin cancer. People with darker skin have more melanin, which helps protect them from these harmful effects, especially in regions near the equator where UV radiation is more intense. This increased melanin production also protects essential nutrients like folate, crucial for fetal development and reproductive health. As human populations migrated out of Africa to areas with less intense sunlight, their… Read More
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