Caden Welk

BIO 1090

Skin Pigmentation is Far More Complex than Previously Thought

A recent study conducted through the combined efforts of MIT, Harvard and Stanford,
has shown that the genetic determination of skin pigmentation is more complex than
previously believed. By working with a group of people indigenous to South Africa called the
KhoeSan the researchers were able to find how proximity to the equator affects the complexity
of the relationship between skin pigmentation and genetics (Cameron, 2017.) They were able
to reach these conclusions by taking anthropometric measurements and then using a
reflectometer to quantify skin color and measure it. The data was genotyped and then
compared to a dataset comprised of roughly 5,000 people from diverse populations throughout
Asia, Europe and Africa (Science Daily, 2017.)
This knowledge could potentially impact the social structures of countries around the
globe. The United States itself has struggled throughout its history with the issue of racism and
the problems it causes within society. Within the last few years alone the Black Lives Matter
movement has picked up momentum in response to police brutalities associated with racial
prejudices. Studies like this could be a solution to this by enabling people to see how skin color
is determined in an individual and how even though the color of skin may vary, it does not
affect other aspects of the person on any level other than the physical.
As mentioned before, this study was conducted by the efforts of various institutions of
higher education (Cameron, 2017.) By cooperating with one another, the universities were able
to pool their resources and data in order to reach the conclusions found in the studies. This also
means that the results were not influenced by potential biases that can be found in studies
conducted by for-profit organizations. It is possible that some of the individuals who
participated in the study had biases, however because of the neutral nature that universities
strive to maintain, coupled with the diversity of the universities involved, it is unlikely that any
of these biases affected the final conclusions derived from the studies. If the results had been
formed with a bias, this would cause me to be skeptical of the validity of the results. There were
no studies shown to be against the results as well as no one opposed to them mentioned within
the article, making the results appear more sound.
On a personal level, I was able to expand my knowledge on the subject of skin
pigmentation and what determines it. Prior to reading the article I believed that the color of
somebodys skin was the results of it being a Mendelian trait. I knew that it was hereditary, but
I never imagined that it could be influenced by so many genetic factors. The clear manner in
which the information provided in the article was presented enabled me to magnify my
previous knowledge of the subject. The only thing that could have improved the article is if it
had provided more specific detail on the results and how they were found instead of only
supplying vague references in certain parts.
 Work Cited

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Skin pigmentation is far more genetically complex than
previously thought. ScienceDaily.
December 1, 2017. Accessed December 05, 2017.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/17120110458.htm

David Cameron Skin pigmentation is far more genetically complex than previously thought.
Broad Institute. November 30, 2017. Accessed December 05, 2017.
https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/skinpigmentation-far-more-genetically-complex-
previously-thought.