Skin Color and Human Evolution

Topic
Resource Type
Description
This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from a study that investigated genetic factors contributing to skin color differences, particularly within African populations.
In this study, scientists identified genomic regions that were significantly correlated with skin color differences. The most significant correlation between variation in skin color and variation in genetic sequence in Africans was at a gene called SLC24A5. This gene codes for a protein that affects the production of melanin, a pigment that gives skin its color and protects against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The left panel of the figure shows global erythemal dose rate as a proxy for average UV exposure. The right panel shows the proportions of different populations with one of two alleles (“G” or “A”) of the SLC24A5 gene.
The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information.
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
- Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure.
- Describe how genetic variations can contribute to differences in skin color.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
allele, genome-wide association study (GWAS), genotype, heat map, melanin, mutation, pie chart, pigmentation, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Primary Literature
Nicholas G. Crawford, Derek E. Kelly, Matthew E. B. Hansen, Marcia H. Beltrame, Shaohua Fan, Shanna L. Bowman, Ethan Jewett, et al. “Loci associated with skin pigmentation identified in African populations.” Science 358, 6365 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan8433.
To access this article, set up a free AAAS account. An annotated version of the article is also available from Science in the Classroom.
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS3-2, HS-LS4-4; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5
AP Biology (2019)
SYI-3.B; SP1, SP4
IB Biology (2016)
3.1, 3.4, 5.2, 10.2
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 2.6, 9.1, 4.7
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, STB-4.A, ENG-2.A, SP5
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9–12.4, ELA.RST.9–12.7
Math.S-ID.6, Math.S-IC.4; MP2, MP5
Vision and Change (2009)
CC1, CC3; DP2