what are skin color pigments? Where are they found? How are they regulated?

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Expert Solution

The colour of the skin that we have, is as a result of the presence of melanin. There are 6 genes that control the colour of the skin. As a result of this, the colour of people vary from dark to light. There are two forms produced, pheomelanin and eumelanin. Production of melanin occurs in the cells of the skin, and these cells are called melanocytes.

The regulation of melanin depEnds upon the amount of UV radiation that a geographic area would be receiving. The areas where higher amount of UV radiation would be found, show people having darker skins. Areas which are farther away from the tropics, have people with lighter skin.

The process of melanin production is referred to as melanogenesis, where, production of melanin occurs in melanosomes. As the melanosomes would become full, these would progress into melanocytes as they get transferred to keratinocytes. Melanocytes regulate melanin production.

The regulation of melanin amount is by the variation in the genes that would be operating under the influence of incomplete dominance. These genes might be coming in a number of alleles leading to the variation in skin tones across planet.

gladiator answered 1 year ago

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