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The Biology of Skin Color

Topic
  • Genetics
  • Gene Expression & Regulation
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Skin & Musculoskeletal System
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Human Evolution
Resource Type
  • Videos
  • Short Films
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Duration
00:18:58
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Favorited By
80 Users
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View in Spanish
Description

This film explores the hypothesis that different tones of skin color in humans arose as adaptations to the intensity of ultraviolet radiation in different parts of the world.

Our human ancestors in Africa likely had dark skin, which is produced by an abundance of the pigment eumelanin in skin cells. In the high ultraviolet (UV) environment of sub-Saharan (or equatorial) Africa, darker skin protects against the damaging effects of UV radiation. Anthropologist Dr. Nina Jablonski explains that the variation in skin color that evolved since our human ancestors migrated out of Africa can be explained by the trade-off between protection from UV and the need for some UV absorption for the production of vitamin D.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Details
Key Terms

adaptation, anthropology, folate, melanin, melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), pigmentation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, vitamin D

Primary Literature

Jablonski, Nina G. Living Color: The Biological and Social Meaning of Skin Color. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2012.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level

This resource complies with accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 06.29.15
Date Updated 05.14.20
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS3.A, HS-LS3.B, HS-LS4.A, HS-LS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-3, IST-1. IST-2, SYI-3

IB Biology (2016)

1.2, 2.6, 3.4, 5.1, 10.2

AP Environmental Science (2013)

I.A, III.B

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

8.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2

Materials
HD (M4V) 682 MB
HD (WMV) 561 MB
SD (M4V) 152 MB
SD (WMV) 143 MB
Transcript (PDF) 206 KB
Spanish Dub (Español) (MP4) 331 MB
Transcript - Español (PDF) 298 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 840 KB

Educator Tips

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1-Minute Tips
The Biology of Skin Color and Hypothesis Testing
Kenyatta McKie describes how she uses "The Biology of Skin Color" short film to allow students to think of their own hypothesis on how skin color evolved.
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The Biology of Skin Color
John Moore describes how he uses the short film "The Biology of Skin Color" with his college students to teach them about the nature of science and hypothesis-driven exploration.
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Human Skin Color: Evidence for Selection
Helen Snodgrass describes how she uses BioInteractive's "The Biology of Skin Color" film and "Evidence for Selection" activity to show students how humans have evolved over time.
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