Biology of Human Skin Color

Which population would be most at risk for having a folate deficiency?

• People with less melanin living near the equator

• People with less melanin living near the poles

• People with more melanin living near the equator

• People with more melanin living near the poles

What is the selective pressure for skin color?

• UVB intensity

• location

• ability to tan

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What type of melanin results in permanently dark colored skin?

• Eumelanin

• Pheomelanin

The more intense UVB radiation is,

• The darker skin must be.

• The less melanin you need.

• the lighter skin can be.

• the safer your DNA and folate production will be.

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Melanin

• is a natural sun screen

• protects DNA from UV damage

• prevents vitamin D production

• all are correct

Your skin color is determined by your

• Genetic inheritance 

• Environmental factors

• Culture

• None of the above

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What is the evolutionary benefit for dark skin near the equator?

• Skin cancer protection

• Folate protection

• It has no evolutionary relationship

• Easier vitamin D production

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What do you predict would happen to the frequency of the genes that cause more of the molecules to be made in a population over time?

• It would increase

• It would increase because individuals with the genes pass it to offspring.

• It would decrease because they don't need those genes.

• It would stay the same.

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Which population would be most at risk for developing rickets, a skeletal disorder that is caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate?

• People with less melanin living near the equator

• People with less melanin living near the poles

• People with more melanin living near the equator

• People with more melanin living near the poles

The lower the intensity of UVB radiation ...

• the darker skin must be.

• the less vitamin D you can make.

• the lighter skin can be.

• the more melanin you need.

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NGSS.HS-LS4-4