Human skin color is determined by the amount and type of melanin present in the skin. Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes in the skin. It's the primary factor that influences the shade of a person's skin.
Melanin is the pigment responsible for the various shades of human skin color.
- Darker skin has a higher concentration of melanin, while lighter skin has a lower concentration.
- The type of melanin also plays a role. Eumelanin produces brown to black pigments, while pheomelanin produces red to yellow pigments.
Skin color is a complex trait influenced by multiple genes. The distribution of skin color around the world reflects the evolutionary history of humans and the influence of environmental factors like sunlight exposure.
