Melanin Review

Front

What is melanin?

Back

Melanin is a natural pigment found in the skin, hair, and eyes of humans and animals, responsible for color and protection against UV radiation.

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What role does melanin play in the skin?

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Melanin protects the skin from UV radiation by absorbing harmful rays and reducing the risk of skin damage and cancer.

Front

What are the types of melanin?

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There are three types of melanin: eumelanin (brown/black), pheomelanin (yellow/red), and neuromelanin (found in the brain).

Front

How is melanin produced in the body?

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Melanin is produced by melanocytes through a process called melanogenesis, which is stimulated by UV exposure.

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What is the relationship between melanin and skin cancer?

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Higher levels of melanin can provide some protection against skin cancer, but individuals with lower melanin levels are at a higher risk for developing skin cancer.

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What is a heterozygous genotype?

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A heterozygous genotype has two different alleles for a particular gene, one inherited from each parent.

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What is the dominant allele?

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The dominant allele is the version of a gene that is expressed in the phenotype when present, masking the effect of the recessive allele.

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What are amino acids?

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Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins, linked together by peptide bonds.

Front

How many amino acids are there in the genetic code?

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There are 20 standard amino acids that are encoded by the genetic code.

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What is the process of transcription?

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Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA, which occurs in the nucleus of the cell.