The evolution of skin pigmentation and hair texture in people of African ancestry

Nina G Jablonski; George Chaplin

doi:10.1016/j.det.2013.11.003

The evolution of skin pigmentation and hair texture in people of African ancestry

Dermatol Clin. 2014 Apr;32(2):113-21. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2013.11.003. Epub 2013 Dec 20.

Authors

Nina G Jablonski¹, George Chaplin²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, 409 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, 409 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, 409 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

PMID: 24679998
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2013.11.003

Abstract

Our species, Homo sapiens, evolved in Africa, and humanity's highest levels of genetic diversity are maintained there today. Underlying genetic diversity combined with the great range of solar regimes and climatic conditions found in Africa has contributed to a wide range of human integumentary phenotypes within the continent. Millions of Africans have moved, voluntarily and involuntarily, to other continents in the past 2000 years, and the range of integumentary phenotypes among admixed African diaspora populations is enormous. In this contribution, we do not catalog this variation, but provide basic evolutionary background as to how it developed in the first place.

Keywords: African American; Afro-textured hair; Eumelanin; MC1R; Melanin; Thermoregulation; Ultraviolet radiation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anthropology, Physical
Black People*
Black or African American
Genetic Variation
Hair Color* / genetics
Humans
Phenotype*
Skin Pigmentation* / genetics