Question 2 Response from Learning Log 5
2. Explain in
detail the hypothesis for the evolution of skin color in humans. What
is the evidence offered to support this hypothesis?
Many believe that there was evolution of skin color in humans. UV Radiation is one of the main sources that support this hypothesis. In our body, there is a pigment called melanin, which is produced by a hormone in our body. When there is an increased amount of UV radiation, there is an increase in the amount of melanin production. Our bodies produce melanin as a natural way to protect our skin. This was a correlation that was discovered between scientists Nina Jablonski and George Chaplin. The type of environment relates to what our skin color will be. Evidence that supports this hypothesis includes Africans having darker skin caused by more exposure to sunlight. Then, on the other side, people in northern Europe have lighter skin because they are not exposed to as much sunlight. The Africans have been proven to have more melanin in their bodies. The body’s action of producing more melanin is a way to protect the body from harmful diseases caused by increased exposure to the UV radiation from sunlight.