Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

How We Get Our Skin Color

Topic

  • Cell Biology
  • Cell Structure & Function
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Skin & Musculoskeletal System

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Animations

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:03:32
Saved By
38 Users
Share This
View in Spanish

Description

This animation describes how skin color is generated by skin cells as protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

The animation briefly explains the basic structure of the skin, then concentrates on the part of the skin responsible for developing skin color. Students learn about the functions of melanocytes, an important type of cell that produces the color pigment melanin. The animation also explores the biological basis of variation in skin color, and how it is related to melanin, vitamin D synthesis, and protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation, which has important implications for health.

Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different cell types and structures.

Key Terms

adaptation, folate, keratinocyte, melanin, melanocyte, pigmentation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, vitamin D

Primary Literature

Jablonski, Nina G. “The Evolution of Human Skin and Skin Color.” Annual Review of Anthropology 33, 1 (2004): 585–623. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.anthro.33.070203.143955.

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

Video files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 06.30.15
Date Updated 04.27.22

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, IST-4, SYI-3

IB Biology (2016)

1.2, 2.6, 3.4, 5.1, 10.2

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 9.1, 4.7

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

8.1

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2

Materials

HD (M4V) 125 MB
HD (WMV) 104 MB
SD (M4V) 29 MB
SD (WMV) 27 MB
Transcript (PDF) 289 KB
Spanish dub (MP4) 51 MB
Transcript - Español (PDF) 179 KB

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Skin Color

Showing of
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Biology of Skin Color
Image from the activity
Lessons
Zebrafish and Skin Color
Image from the activity showing skin color variation over a map
Lessons
Understanding Variation in Human Skin Color
An icon of a world map with many colored pie charts.
Data Points
Skin Color and Human Evolution
An icon showing a brown mouse nuzzling a gray mouse.
Phenomenal Images
Coloration in Vertebrates
Three DNA strands with photos of people with different skin colors on each strand
Short Films
The Biology of Skin Color
Image of a map of Africa from the film
Film Activities
Activity for The Biology of Skin Color
Image of the title screen of the film
Interactive Videos
Interactive Exploration of How We Get Our Skin Color
Image of a world map from the activity
Case Studies
Human Skin Color: Evidence for Selection
Image described in the article
Phenomenal Images
Red Tattoo

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Image of the title screen of the film
Interactive Videos
Interactive Exploration of How We Get Our Skin Color
Image described in the article
Phenomenal Images
Red Tattoo
Microscopy image of root growth
Phenomenal Images
Root Movement
Computer image of a cell receptor from the video
Animations
Cystic Fibrosis Mechanism and Treatment
Computer image of an HIV cross section
Animations
HIV Life Cycle
Computer illustration of a proteasome
Animations
Ubiquitin and the Proteasome
Computer illustration of a normal cell from the video
Animations
Using p53 to Fight Cancer
Screen shot of quiz screen
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Origin of Birds
Image from the activity
Lessons
Zebrafish and Skin Color
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Tissue Regeneration in Animals
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility