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Skin Color and Human Evolution

Two world maps shown side-by-side: a heat map on the left labeled B, and a map with many colored pie charts on the right labeled E.

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Genomics
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Human Evolution
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Graph Interpretation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Data Points

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
39 Users
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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

Within one 50-minute class period.

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)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 05.24.19
Date Updated 04.09.20

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

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 559 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 457 KB

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