How did all the races on earth get their colours?

Answer 1

They all evolved together at different places but at the same time, there are a few physical differences, such as African americans who are often very muscular, chinese who are not too tall but are very durable (marathon runners) there eyes were made that way from the ferocious winds and it actually helps protect them from dust etc. The different colours evolved in different places depending on climate etc. but human transportation changed all of that. People just evolved in different places, or as the church believes were magically produced all at the same time whose colours were just for them to admire?
The main difference comes from Melanin. n humans, melanin is found in skin, hair, the pigmented tissue underlying the iris, the medulla and zona reticularis of the adrenal gland, the stria vascularis of the inner ear, and in pigment bearing neurons of certain deep brain nuclei such as the locus ceruleus and the substantia nigra. Melanin is the primary determinant of human skin colour.

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.

Because melanin is an aggregate of smaller component molecules, there are a number of different types of melanin with differing proportions and bonding patterns of these component molecules. Both pheomelanin and eumelanin are found in human skin and hair, but eumelanin is the most abundant melanin in humans, as well as the form most likely to be deficient in albinism.


Eumelanin polymers have long been thought to comprise numerous cross-linked 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) polymers; recent research into the electrical properties of eumelanin, however, has indicated that it may consist of more basic oligomers adhering to one another by some other mechanism. Thus, the precise nature of eumelanin's molecular structure is once again the object of study.[citation needed] Eumelanin is found in hair and skin, and colours hair grey, black, yellow, and brown. In humans, it is more abundant in peoples with dark skin. There are two different types of eumelanin, which are distinguished from each other by their pattern of polymer bonds. The two types are black eumelanin and brown eumelanin. A small amount of black eumelanin in the absence of other pigments causes grey hair. A small amount of brown eumelanin in the absence of other pigments causes yellow (blond) color hair.

Pheomelanin is also found in hair and skin and is more abundant in lighter skinned humans. Pheomelanin imparts a pink to red hue and, thus, is found in particularly large quantities in red hair. Pheomelanin is particularly concentrated in the lips, nipples, glans of the penis, and vagina. Pheomelanin also may become carcinogenic when exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Chemically, pheomelanin differs from eumelanin in that its oligomer structure incorporates the amino acid L-cysteine, as well as DHI and DHICA units.

Neuromelanin is the dark pigment present in pigment bearing neurons of four deep brain nuclei: the substantia nigra (in Latin, literally "black substance") - Pars Compacta part, the locus ceruleus ("blue spot"), the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), and the median raphe nucleus of the pons. Both the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus can be easily identified grossly at the time of autopsy due to their dark pigmentation. In humans, these nuclei are not pigmented at the time of birth, but develop pigmentation during maturation to adulthood. Although the functional nature of neuromelanin is unknown in the brain, it may be a byproduct of the synthesis of monoamine neurotransmitters for which the pigmented neurons are the only source. The loss of pigmented neurons from specific nuclei is seen in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. In Parkinson's disease there is massive loss of dopamine producing pigmented neurons in the substantia nigra. A common finding in advanced Alzheimer's disease is almost complete loss of the norepinephrine producing pigmented neurons of the locus ceruleus. Neuromelanin has been detected in primates and in carnivores such as cats and dogs.
Melanin deficiency in genetic disorders and disease states

Melanin deficiency has been connected for some time with various genetic abnormalities and disease states.

There are approximately ten different types of oculocutaneous albinism, which is mostly an autosomal recessive disorder. Certain ethnicities have higher incidences of different forms. For example, the most common type, called oculocutaneous albinism type 2 (OCA2), is especially frequent among people of black African descent. It is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a congenital reduction or absence of melanin pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. The estimated frequency of OCA2 among African-Americans is 1 in 10,000, which contrasts with a frequency of 1 in 36,000 in white Americans [5]. In some African nations, the frequency of the disorder is even higher, ranging from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 5,000.[6] Another form of Albinism, the "yellow oculocutaneous albinism", appears to be more prevalent among the Amish, who are of primarily Swiss and German ancestry. People with this IB variant of the disorder commonly have white hair and skin at birth, but rapidly develop normal skin pigmentation in infancy.[6]

Ocular albinism affects not only eye pigmentation, but visual acuity, as well. People with albinism typically test poorly, within the 20/60 to 20/400 range. Additionally, two forms of albinism, with approximately 1 in 2700 most prevalent among people of Puerto Rican origin, are associated with mortality beyond melanoma-related deaths.

Mortality also is increased in patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome have a bleeding diathesis secondary to platelet dysfunction and also experience restrictive lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis), inflammatory bowel disease, cardiomyopathy, and renal disease. Patients with Chediak-Higashi syndrome are susceptible to infection and also can develop lymphofollicular malignancy.[6]

The role that melanin deficiency plays in such disorders remains under study.

The connection between albinism and deafness has been well known, though poorly understood, for more than a century-and-a-half. In his 1859 treatise On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin observed that "cats which are entirely white and have blue eyes are generally deaf"[7]. In humans, hypopigmentation and deafness occur together in the rare Waardenburg's syndrome, predominantly observed among the Hopi in North America. [8] The incidence of albinism in Hopi Indians has been estimated as approximately 1 in 200 individuals. Interestingly, similar patterns of albinism and deafness have been found in other mammals, including dogs and rodents. However, a lack of melanin per se does not appear to be directly responsible for deafness associated with hypopigmentation, as most individuals lacking the enzymes required to synthesize melanin have normal auditory function [9]. Instead the absence of melanocytes in the stria vascularis of the inner ear results in cochlear impairment [10], though why this is is not fully understood. It may be that melanin, the best sound absorbing material known, plays some protective function. Alternately, melanin may affect development, as Darwin suggests.

In Parkinson's disease, a disorder that affects neuromotor functioning, there is decreased neuromelanin in the substantia nigra as consequence of specific dropping out of dopaminergic pigmented neurons. This results in diminished dopamine synthesis. While no correlation between race and the level of neuromelanin in the substantia nigra has been reported, the significantly lower incidence of Parkinson's in blacks than in whites has "prompt[ed] some to suggest that cutaneous melanin might somehow serve to protect the neuromelanin in substantia nigra from external toxins."[11]. Also see Nicolaus [12] review article on the function of neuromalanins

In addition to melanin deficiency, the molecular weight of the melanin polymer may be decreased due to various factors such as oxidative stress, exposure to light, perturbation in its association with melanosomal matrix proteins, changes in pH or in local concentrations of metal ions. A decreased molecular weight or a decrease in the degree of polymerization of ocular melanin has been proposed to turn the normally anti-oxidant polymer into a pro-oxidant. In its pro-oxidant state, melanin has been suggested to be involved in the causation and progression of macular degeneration and melanoma. (Ref: Pigment cell Res. 2001; volume 14: pages 148-154. "Redox regulation in human melanocytes and melanoma")

[edit] Melanin and human adaptation

Melanocytes insert granules of melanin into specialized cellular vesicles called melanosomes. These are then transferred into the other skin cells of the human epidermis. The melanosomes in each recipient cell accumulate atop the cell nucleus, where they protect the nuclear DNA from mutations caused by the ionizing radiation of the sun's ultraviolet rays. People whose ancestors lived for long periods in the regions of the globe near the equator generally have larger quantities of eumelanin in their skins. This makes their skins brown or black and protects them against high levels of exposure to the sun, which more frequently results in melanomas in lighter skinned people.

With humans, exposure to sunlight stimulates the liver to produce vitamin D. Because high levels of cutaneous melanin act as a natural sun screen, dark skin can be a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.

In Scotland, which lies at a northern latitude, descendants of the Britons have white skin. When their skin is exposed to the meager sunlight, the scant amount of melanin their skin produces is unable to block the sunlight. Therefore, their bodies are able to make Vitamin D with the help of sunlight. Vitamin D, a vitamin found in fish oil, is necessary to prevent rickets, a bone disease caused by too little calcium.

In contrast, in Africa, which is near the equator, humans require intense sunlight to penetrate their dark skin to make Vitamin D. This is all well and good. However, when blacks lived in England during the Industrial Revolution, they were the first to develop symptoms of rickets, such as retarded growth, bowed legs and fractures because not enough sunlight was available.

Fortunately, in 1930, Vitamin D was discovered and dispensed as a supplement to add to the diet. Now many common foods like milk and bread are Vitamin D fortified.

The most recent scientific evidence indicates that all humanity originated in Africa. 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. Of the two common gene variants known to be associated with pale human skin, Mc1r [13] does not appear to have undergone positive selection, while SLC24A5 [14] has.

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, including the photodegradation of certain vitamins such as riboflavins, carotenoids, tocopherol, and folate.

Higher eumelanin levels also can be a disadvantage, however, beyond a higher disposition toward vitamin D deficiency. Dark skin is a complicating factor in the laser removal of port-wine stains. Effective in treating white skin, lasers generally are less successful in removing port-wine stains in Asians and people of African descent. Higher concentrations of melanin in darker-skinned individuals simply diffuse and absorb the laser radiation, inhibiting light absorption by the targeted tissue. Melanin similarly can complicate laser treatment of other dermatological conditions in people with darker skin.

Freckles and moles are formed where there is a localized concentration of melanin in the skin. They are highly associated with pale skin.

Melanin in the eyes helps protect them from ultraviolet and high frequency visible light; people with blue eyes are more at risk for sun-related eye problems. Further, the ocular lens yellows with age, providing added protection. However, the lens also becomes more rigid with age, losing most of its accommodation — the ability to change shape to focus from far to near — a detriment due probably to protein crosslinking caused by UV exposure.

Recent research by J.D. Simon et al. (Pigment Cell Research, 2004, 17: 262-269) suggests that melanin may serve a protective role other than photoprotection. Melanin is able to effectively ligate metal ions through its carboxylate and phenolic hydroxyl groups, in many cases much more efficiently than the powerful chelating ligand ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA). It may thus serve to sequester potentially toxic metal ions, protecting the rest of the cell. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the loss of neuromelanin observed in Parkinson's disease is accompanied by an increase in iron levels in the brain.

Answer 2

I read a book called something like "dreams of the neaderthal" and it said that basically there was an early group of man in Africa. It was hot and there was a lot of big predatory animals so the people moved around at night. Some left and went to India where it rained a lot and there was cold-blooded reptiles. I don't really remember everything but it also went into masuline/feminine and sun/moon worship. Neaderthal/cro-magnon. Arian/other. This guy said there were two different kinds of people and the Cro-magnon peoples basically went all george bush on everybody making there way up to Europe and the white skin color came from people getting caught in between retreating and advancing glaciers. And the Cro-magnon victors took their sopils in mating with the moon worshiping neaderthals. I'm not saying it's true but it's interesting.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

well... i learnt at school that we all started off with really dark skin colour. this is because dark people have a lot of melanin in their body. this melanin stops them from getting sunburnt as they are live in hot countries and have adapted to their environment. however fairer skined people were also dark once upon a time in their generation, however they lost the melanin due to their atmosphere being very cold leading to them not needing that melanin. so this is how different races have different coloured skin. oh and by the way it takes millions of years for your phiscal appearance to adapt to the environment. it doesnt mean that if you have children and make them live in a different environment they will change in skin colour (haha i think you already knew that!!)

Answer 5

First of all, there's only one race...the human race. The colors of our skin came from our ancestors. How?... through reproduction, natural selection, chromosome adapatations as a means of survival. The fair skinned ones had little sun to deal with in the far north while the equatorial regions required more protection from the sun and consequently were darker.

Answer 6

It is believed that we all started out from Africa and would have had darker skin tones to protect us from the effects of the sun.
As we spread out to more Northern climes and there were climatic changes, too, people living in the areas with little sunshine developed lighter skins so that they could absorb Vitamin D and those who saw little sunshine didn't need protection.
Read Professor Bryan Sykes "The Seven Daughters of Eve", published by Norton Press. ISBN 0-393-02018-5 in which he demonstrates the movement of genes from Africa and spreading out across Europe, Asia, etc.
My Clan Mother is known as "Una" the U demonstrating that she was Asian (and had good walking boots!)

Answer 7

People who live closer to the equator receive more concentrated rays of light from the sun. The sun rays trigger melanin in the skin which is a brown skin pigment which makes the skin appear brown.

Answer 8

It was an evolutionary process. As early peoples migrated to various regions and climates their melanin (what makes skin coloration) changed to fit their environment as protection from the sun, cold etc.
That is kind of a simple answer.

Answer 9

Check out: The Journey of Man- It was on the Discovery Channel. It uses DNA and traces the origin of man.

natgeochannel.co.uk/explore/genographic/programmes.aspx

Basically, we all evolved when the chimps got out of the trees and walked upright. When they started eating "meat", their brain evolved. They were traced migrating to Africa then the middle east. The colors were derived from their environment. This took millions of years.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

Only 1...moving Countries and changing the colour of your skin is not going to help you...just admit that you lied. You must have heard of melanin, it provides black people with the necessary protection against the hot sun. Whilst white people need lighter skin to better absorb sun rays for vitamin "D". The original colour was black as human king began in Africa.

The multitude of shades in between is the product of multi breeding between races. You knew that right?