High School

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Describe how our skin darkens in the presence of the sun. In your description, be sure to:

1. Name the pigment that darkens our skin.
2. Describe how skin darkening protects our DNA from damage.

Answer :

Final answer:

Skin darkens due to increased production of melanin, which provides protection against DNA damage from UV rays. Dark skin pigmentation is an evolutionary adaptation that protects from skin cancer, conserves folic acid, and requires more sun exposure to synthesize vitamin D.

Explanation:

Our skin darkens in the presence of the sun as a protective measure against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The main pigment responsible for this darkening is melanin, which comes in two primary forms: eumelanin (black and brown) and pheomelanin (red color). When exposed to UV rays from the sun or a tanning salon, our skin cells are stimulated to produce and build up melanin within keratinocytes. This increased melanin accumulation leads to a tan, which in turn protects the DNA in our epidermal cells from damage caused by UV rays.

Dark skin pigmentation reduces UV light absorption, which is essential in areas with high exposure, like regions closer to the equator. This adaptation minimizes the risk of UV-induced skin cancers and the breakdown of folic acid. Folic acid is crucial to prevent severe birth defects in pregnant women, such as neural tube defects. However, darker skin pigmentation necessitates longer sun exposure to synthesize the same amount of vitamin D as lighter-skinned individuals, which is vital for calcium absorption and bone health.

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Rewritten by : Barada

Special cells in the skin, called melanocytes, make two different types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin. ... Melanin helps protect our skin and hair by filtering out potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The UV light from thesun can damage DNA and cause cancer