Why do some people have very little melanin?

Question

Like White people....

Answer 1

It is due to human adaptation over time.

It is most likely that the first people had relatively large numbers of eumelanin producing melanocytes and, accordingly, darker skin (as displayed by the indigenous people of Africa, today). As some of these original peoples migrated and settled in areas of Asia and Europe, the selective pressure for eumelanin production decreased in climates where radiation from the sun was less intense. Thus variations in genes involved in melanin production began to appear in the population, resulting in lighter hair and skin in humans residing at northern latitudes. Studies have been carried out to determine whether these changes were due to genetic drift or positive selection, perhaps driven by requirement for vitamin D.

As with peoples who migrated northward, those with light skin who migrate southward acclimatize to the much stronger solar radiation. Most people's skin darkens when exposed to UV light, giving them more protection when it is needed. This is the physiological purpose of sun tanning. Dark-skinned people, who produce more skin-protecting eumelanin, are less likely to suffer from sunburn and the development of melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, as well as other health problems related to exposure to strong solar radiation.

Answer 2

Your body needs vitamin D which it can get from sunlight. Melanin is something that stops sunlight from entering your skin. (that's why darker people have a hard time getting sunburn) It was natural selection for people who live further from the equator to become lighter (less Melanin). That way they can get more vitamin D because they don't have a lot of the stuff that blocks sunlight. So, people that have little melanin got it from their ancestors who lived further away from the equator and their ancestors had to have less melanin so they could get more vitamin D.

Answer 3

Called genetics. Different people from different regions of the world have varying levels of melanin,based on their body's needs for he geographical area.

Answer 4

two factors...genetics, and sun
usually white people have white parents, but you can darken your skin and increase your melanin level by tanning either in sun or man-made UV light

Answer 5

the lighter you are the less melanin you have. thats why ppl with lighter skin get sun burned easier cuz they dont have alot of melanin

Answer 6

It's due to their genetics

Answer 7

genetics

Answer 8

it's how they're made?...