Human skin color likely represents a locally adapted compromise between

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Human skin color is determined by the amount of melanin, a pigment that protects against the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, excessive melanin can also prevent the skin from synthesizing enough vitamin D from sunlight, which is crucial for bone health. Therefore, skin color likely represents a compromise between the need to block UV radiation that destroys folate (which is necessary for DNA synthesis and repair) and the need to synthesize vitamin D. This compromise would vary depending on the local environment and the availability of UV radiation.

Human Skin Color Likely Represents a Locally Adapted Compromise Between