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

Interactive Exploration of How We Get Our Skin Color

Start Video
Image of the title screen of the film

Topic

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

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Interactive Videos

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
66 Users
Share This

Description

The added information provided at pause points within the animation How We Get Our Skin Color allows for a richer exploration of the topic of human skin structure and function.

How We Get Our Skin Color explains the connections between the anatomy and function of our skin, particularly in relation to our health. Students learn about the roles of the different layers of cells in skin and dive deeper into the functions of melanocytes, a type of cell that produces the pigment melanin. The animation also explores the relationships between melanin, skin color, vitamin D synthesis, and protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation.

This version of the animation contains automatic pause points, during which students access additional information in the form of text and illustrations, videos, questions, and fun interactive widgets.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Explain how the structure of human skin is related to its function and to the evolution of skin color.

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

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

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

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Interactive media meets criteria.

Version History

Date Published 10.13.15
Date Updated 11.05.21

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS3.A, HS-LS3.B, HS-LS4.A, HS-LS4.C, HS-PS4.B; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.C, EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-3.A, SYI-3.A, SYI-3.B, SYI-3.D, IST-1.K, IST-2.E, IST-4.A; SP1, SP2

IB Biology (2016)

1.2, 2.6, 3.4, 5.1, 10.2

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 4.7, 9.1
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, STB-4.A, ENG-2.A

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

8.1

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2; DP1

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Transcript (PDF) 264 KB
Student Worksheet (PDF) 377 KB

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator in front of an animation of a skin cell Play Video Next Slide Next Slide
/
1-Minute Tips

The Biology of Skin Color and the Nature of Science

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.
View Article
Previous Slide Next Slide
Close Modal

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 from the animation of different skin colors
Animations
How We Get Our Skin Color
Image of a map of Africa from the film
Film Activities
Activity for The Biology of 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 from the animation of different skin colors
Animations
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