Skin Cancer May Have Caused Evolution Towards Dark Skin
- 10 years ago
According to recent scientific evidence, the evolution of people with darker skin in Africa might be related to protection from skin cancer. Data shows that 80 percent of people in African countries along the equator like Tanzania and Nigeria who have albinism, or no melanin in their skin, get fatal skin cancer before reaching the age of 30.
According to recent scientific evidence, the evolution of people with darker skin in Africa might be related to protection from skin cancer.
Data shows that 80 percent of people in African countries along the equator like Tanzania and Nigeria who have albinism, or no melanin in their skin, get fatal skin cancer before reaching the age of 30.
Albinism is a genetically inherited genetic trait, so the benefits of having darker skin in a sunny climate has led scientists to theorize that the evolutionary advantages led to entire populations with darker skin.
Professor Mel Greaves, the director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research in London who led the study, is quoted as saying: "the clinical data on people with albinism, particularly in Africa, provide a strong argument that lethal cancers may well have played a major role in early human evolution as an important factor in the development of skin rich in dark pigmentation - in eumelanin.”
People with pale skin are reportedly around one thousand times more likely to develop skin cancer than people with dark skin.
According to recent scientific evidence, the evolution of people with darker skin in Africa might be related to protection from skin cancer.
Data shows that 80 percent of people in African countries along the equator like Tanzania and Nigeria who have albinism, or no melanin in their skin, get fatal skin cancer before reaching the age of 30.
Albinism is a genetically inherited genetic trait, so the benefits of having darker skin in a sunny climate has led scientists to theorize that the evolutionary advantages led to entire populations with darker skin.
Professor Mel Greaves, the director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research in London who led the study, is quoted as saying: "the clinical data on people with albinism, particularly in Africa, provide a strong argument that lethal cancers may well have played a major role in early human evolution as an important factor in the development of skin rich in dark pigmentation - in eumelanin.”
People with pale skin are reportedly around one thousand times more likely to develop skin cancer than people with dark skin.