Understanding Skin Color
Explore the biological factors determining human skin color, its evolutionary significance, and related health considerations.
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Understanding Skin Color
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences for short answer questions.
1. What is the primary pigment responsible for human skin color?
Hemoglobin
Melanin
Carotene
Bilirubin
2. Which of the following is NOT a type of melanin?
Eumelanin
Pheomelanin
Neuromelanin
Chlorophyll
1. Melanocytes are specialized cells responsible for producing .
2. The variation in human skin color is primarily due to the amount and type of produced by melanocytes.
3. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation stimulates the production of , leading to tanning.
1. Describe the protective function of melanin in human skin. Refer to the diagram below.
2. Explain how natural selection has influenced the diversity of skin colors across different human populations.
1. All humans have roughly the same number of melanocytes.
True
False
2. Skin color is solely determined by a single gene.
True
False
Match each term with its correct description.
1. Eumelanin
a. Produces red/yellow pigment
2. Pheomelanin
b. Produces brown/black pigment
3. Vitamin D synthesis
c. Requires UV exposure