On the Origin of Human Epidermal Melanism Adaptation

On the Origin of Human Epidermal Melanism Adaptation

Melanin is the pigment that gives humans and animals there skin, hair, and eyes their color. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light-skinned people have. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes.

Melanism: an increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation (as of skin, feathers, or hair) of an individual or kind of organism

However, two forms are produced--pheomelanin , which is red to yellow in color, and eumelanin , which is dark brown to black. People with light complexioned skin mostly produce pheomelanin, while those with dark colored skin mostly produce eumelanin.

Adaptation is also called an adaptive trait in biology. Adaptive trait is a current functional role in the life of an organism that maintains and evolves by means of natural selection.Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype; it is a key mechanism of evolution. The term "natural selection" was created by Charles Darwin, who intended it to be compared with artificial selection, now known as selective breeding. Adaptations enhance the fitness and survival of individuals. Melanism is related to the process of adaptive. Most commonly, dark individuals become fitter to survive and reproduce in their environment as they are better camouflaged. For example, black panthers use it as an advantage during the night hunting.Adaptive melanism has been shown to occur in a variety of animals, including mammals such as squirrels, many felines and canids, and coral snakes.

By:Marlisha Syverain