Skin deep

Nina G. Jablonski; George Chaplin

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1002-74

Skin deep

Nina G. Jablonski, George Chaplin

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

The trait related to human skin color to synthesize vitamin D was analyzed. The human skin color was the product of natural selection which regulated the effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation on key nutrients crucial to reproductive success. It was found that the human skin color was dark enough to prevent sunlight from destroying the nutrient folate but light enough to foster the production of vitamin D.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	74-81
Number of pages	8
Journal	Scientific American
Volume	287
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican1002-74
State	Published - Oct 2002

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title = "Skin deep",

abstract = "The trait related to human skin color to synthesize vitamin D was analyzed. The human skin color was the product of natural selection which regulated the effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation on key nutrients crucial to reproductive success. It was found that the human skin color was dark enough to prevent sunlight from destroying the nutrient folate but light enough to foster the production of vitamin D.",

author = "Jablonski, {Nina G.} and George Chaplin",

year = "2002",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1038/scientificamerican1002-74",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "287",

pages = "74--81",

journal = "Scientific American",

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AU - Jablonski, Nina G.

AU - Chaplin, George

PY - 2002/10

Y1 - 2002/10

N2 - The trait related to human skin color to synthesize vitamin D was analyzed. The human skin color was the product of natural selection which regulated the effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation on key nutrients crucial to reproductive success. It was found that the human skin color was dark enough to prevent sunlight from destroying the nutrient folate but light enough to foster the production of vitamin D.

AB - The trait related to human skin color to synthesize vitamin D was analyzed. The human skin color was the product of natural selection which regulated the effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation on key nutrients crucial to reproductive success. It was found that the human skin color was dark enough to prevent sunlight from destroying the nutrient folate but light enough to foster the production of vitamin D.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036771853&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036771853&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/scientificamerican1002-74

DO - 10.1038/scientificamerican1002-74

M3 - Review article

C2 - 12271527

AN - SCOPUS:0036771853

SN - 0036-8733

VL - 287

SP - 74

EP - 81

JO - Scientific American

JF - Scientific American

IS - 4

ER -

Skin deep

Abstract

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