Human Skin Color: Origin, Variation, and Significance

    January 1985 in “ Journal of Human Evolution/Journal of human evolution ”
    Walter C. Quevedo, Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, Kowichi Jimbow
    Studysummary This review examines the evolution of human skin pigmentation and its genetic basis, suggesting that variations might be due to a few interacting gene pairs, and reports no new research findings.
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    The document discussed the evolution and significance of human skin color, emphasizing the role of melanin in protecting against solar radiation. Melanin is produced by melanocytes and transferred to keratinocytes, with skin and hair color determined by the quantity and quality of melanosomes. Eumelanin (black-brown) is found in all pigmented sites, while pheomelanin (yellow-red) is specific to hair follicles. Albinism results from defects in melanin synthesis. Human skin pigmentation follows a general mammalian pattern, with ethnic variations likely influenced by three to six gene pairs. The document also noted that while melanin has functions beyond photoprotection, many proposed adaptive functions are speculative.
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