ANTH 1006 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Subtropics, Homo Sapiens, Dark Skin
Document Summary
Skin evolved to be dark enough to prevent sunlight from destroying the nutrient folate light enough to foster the production of vitamin d distribution of skin colors among indigenous populations is not random: Darker peoples tend to be found nearer the equator lighter ones closer to the poles. Epidemiological and physiological evidence suggests that worldwide pattern of human skin color is the product of natural selection acting to regulate the effects of the sun"s uv radiation on key nutrients crucial to reproductive success. Evolution of skin pigmentation is linked with hairlessness. Chimpanzee"s skin is light in color and is covered by hair over most of their bodies. Young animals have pink faces, hands, feet. Become freckled or dark in these area only as they are exposed to sun with age. Earliest humans almost certainly had a light skin covered with hair. Hair loss occurred first then skin color changed.
