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Name: Amanda P.
Status: Student
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Why don't we have melanin in our hands?


Replies:
Melanin, the pigment that determines the color of skin, hair and eyes, is produced in cells called melanocytes, as you know. The amount of melanin is one of the factors that determine the races.If melanin is not formed by the melanocytes the skin becomes lighter or completely white and more melanin a skin has, darker it turns. The need of melanin is to protect the skin from the UV radiation that comes from the sun light. The species adapt themselves according to their needs.

So the Africans skin during the millions of years of evolution become dark and darker to protect from the high temperatures and sunburn. But due to the same adaptation the body parts that are less exposed to the sun, as the palm hands and the soles feet got less melanin because it was lesser needed. As a consequence they are lighter. So is nature...very wise...

And thanks for asking NEWTON!

Mabel
(Dr. Mabel Rodrigues)


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