How is the diversity in human skin color related to human environmental adaptation?
Human skin color variations are adaptive characteristics that are linked to geography and UV exposure to the sun. One of the most difficult challenges for early humans was staying cool when they ventured into hot, open regions in quest of food and water. The preferred adaptation entailed increasing the number of sweat glands on the skin while decreasing body hair. Perspiration would be able to evaporate more quickly and the body would be able to cool down more effectively if there were less hair on the body. However, because it was exposed to very intense sun, especially towards the equator, its less-hairy skin was an issue. Because prolonged exposure to the sun harms the body, the solution was to evolve skin that was permanently dark to guard against the sun's more harmful rays.
Melanin is responsible for skin pigmentation (tanning) and serves as a protective barrier. Darker colors have been preferred in areas with high irradiation, while lighter skins have been preferred at higher latitudes with reduced irradiation.
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
