What else does melanin do besides sunblock?

Question

does anybody know what other functions it serves in the body. And what the implications are for those who lack it?

- there I posted in the biology section - you happy now?

Melanin influences neural activity and mediates the conduction of radiation, light, heat and kinetic energy. As such, it is the subject of intense interest in biotech research and development

Answer 1

Melanin is formed as part of the process of metabolizing tyrosine (an amino acid). Melanin is formed in the skin by cells called melanocytes.

Not only is it responsible for skin color, it also gives hair and the iris of the eye their natural colors.

The purpose of melanin production is protect the nucleic acid of the cells, cell membranes, and proteins (collagen and elastin).

While melanin provides natural protection against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays, it does not provide complete protection. Therefore, darker skinned individuals are still at risk, although they are generally better able to tolerate more lengthy exposure to the sun than lighter skinned individuals. Melanin's protection comes in the form of a tan that occurs when pigments enlarge in response to the ultraviolet radiation. This helps the skin to prevent sunburn damage, which can lead to cancerous melanoma. Cataracts have also been linked to sun exposure and less than optimum melanin levels. Too much ultraviolet exposure can also lead to anemia, neural tube defects in pregnant women, and decreased sperm production- a few possible results from folic acid levels being depleted.

Certain medical conditions are associated with the lack of melanin. Albinism, for example, is the absence of normal amounts of melanin in the body and can affect skin color, hair color, and/or eye color. It can also result in impaired vision, as melanin minimizes the number of light beams that enter the eye and permits the absorption of scattered light within the eye.

Darker skinned people are at a disadvantage in northern latitudes because they are incapable of synthesizing enough vitamin D from the sunlight. However, the dark-skinned Eskimos of Alaska haven't had to undergo the same reduction in pigmentation as others in such high altitudes because they eat a diet rich in fish and other seafood (which are high in vitamin D).

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Answer 2

The only people to lack melanin altogether are albinos. The main purpase of melanin is to filter out UV rays it also determines hair and eye color. Also the places on the human body where melanin is not produced is the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, hence their lighter color. The higher the melanin production the lower the risk for skin cancer will be. There are two types of melanin Pheomelanin and Neuromelanin. The first appears mostly in light skinned individuals and imparts a pink to red hue, it is particulary abundent in red heads. The last one usually appears in darker people and dark hair shades

Answer 3

Dermal melanin is produced by melanocytes, which are found in the stratum basale of the epidermis. Although human beings generally possess a similar concentration of melanocytes in their skin, the melanocytes in some individuals and ethnic groups more frequently or less frequently express the melanin-producing genes, thereby conferring a greater or lesser concentration of skin melanin. Some individual animals and humans have very little or no melanin in their bodies, a condition known as albinism.

Answer 4

Those with less melanin are more likely to absorb Vitamin D from the sun better than those with more melanin...I read that somewhere but you can hardly notice since vitamin D helps you with bone growth and whites and blacks almost have the same average height

Answer 5

The implications of a lack of melanin...small penis's like Ralph Kramden and Robert Shelton....BWAAAAAAHAHAHA

Answer 6

It enhances common sense, increases
agility and beautifies. Why do you think
they make sun tanning lotion?

Answer 7

it converts sunlight into vitamin D

Answer 8

make skin look like candy
mmm...

Answer 9

it gets a good paying job!

Answer 10

make you look like an ape