Interactive Exploration of How We Get Our Skin Color

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.