What makes the color of our skin?

Answer 1

As was discussed in Where did the human races come from?, we learned that all humans on earth today are descended from Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives, and before that from Adam and Eve (Genesis 1-11). But today we have many different groups, often called "races," with what seem to be greatly differing features. The most obvious of these is skin color. Many see this as a reason to doubt the Bible's record of history. They believe that the various groups could have arisen only by evolving separately over tens of thousands of years. However, as we shall see, this does not follow from the biological evidence.

Skin Color

We know that skin color is governed by more than one pair of genes. For simplicity, let's assume there are only two, 1 located at positions A and B on the chromosomes. One form of the gene, "M," "says" to make lots of melanin; another form of the gene, 2 "m," says to only make a little melanin. At position A we could have a pair such as MAMA, MAmA, or mAmA 3 which would instruct the skin cells to make a lot, some, or little melanin. Similarly, at position B we could have the gene pairs MBMB, MBmB, or mBmB instructing cells to make a lot, some or little melanin. Thus very dark people could have MAMAMBMB.


If people with MAMAMBMB , who are "pure" black (in the sense of having no genes for lightness at all), were to intermarry and migrate to a place where their offspring could not marry other people of lighter color, all their descendants would be black -- a pure "black line" would result.

If "white" people (mAmAmBmB) were to marry only other whites and migrate to a place where their offspring could not marry darker people, a pure (in the same sense) "white line" would result -- they would have lost the genes needed to produce a large amount of melanin and be black.

It is thus easily possible, beginning with two middle-brown parents, to get not only all the "colors," but also people groups with stable shades of skin color.

But what about people groups that are permanently middle-brown, such as we have today? Again, this is easily explained. If those with genes MAMAmBmB or mAmAMBMB no longer intermarry with others, they will be able be able to produce only mid-brown offspring.

theres lots more but this is a good example. hope this helps.


-chad

Answer 2

Human skin color is quite variable around the world. It ranges from a very dark brown among some Africans, Australians, and Melanesians to a near yellowish pink among some Northern Europeans. There are no people who actually have true black, white, red, or yellow skin. These are commonly used color terms that do not reflect biological reality.

Skin color is due primarily to the presence of a pigment called melanin . Both light and dark complexioned people have this pigment. However, two forms are produced--pheomelanin , which is red to yellow in color, and eumelanin , which is dark brown to black. People with light complexioned skin mostly produce pheomelanin, while those with dark colored skin mostly produce eumelanin. In addition, individuals differ in the number and size of melanin particles. The latter two variables are more important in determining skin color than the percentages of the different kinds of melanin. In lighter skin, color is also affected by red cells in blood flowing close to the skin. To a lesser extent, the color is affected by the presence of fat under the skin and carotene , a reddish-orange pigment in the skin.

Answer 3

Pigments...

The reason that some people are black and some are white, etc. have to do with geographical location and the needs of that area. If you notice...why are people from Sweden typically light? That is because they are from an area in the world where the sun is not as harsh and the need for darker pigment is unnecessary. Africans have typically had more pigmentation because they are from an area where the sun is brutal and the darker coloring is for protection. That is really the only reason why we have differences in skin coloring. Makes you wonder why everyone fights so much about it then???

Answer 4

Skin color is determined by the amount and type of the pigment melanin in the skin.

Answer 5

You have pigments in your school and the density/amount of them determine what color your skin is.

Answer 6

this could inevitably be a question of genetics. If a black guy had to alter right into a white guy he could be out of luck, i think, as a results of fact the genetic code is written into each and every cellular and this could of direction mean changing the gene shape in each and every cellular. this could be a job so great (and in all probability impossibl;e) that the inevitable question of "why" could arise. you're able to could desire to stay out your lifetime interior the present physique and desire for a distinctive one next time around. that's only a count of 50 or so years so why hassle approximately it ? you're able to remember that Michael Jackson replaced into desperately stressful to alter right into a "white guy" and he in all probability spent thousands and thousands of greenbacks to this end and wound up finding like a zombie. It in all probability affected his concepts too , to all debts.

Answer 7

melanin pigments, produced by cells called melanocytes in response to genes, sun exposure and sometimes, hormones.

Answer 8

there is apigment named melanin which is responsible for the colour of our skin

Answer 9

a pigment named menalin

Answer 10

the amount of melanin you have