Final answer:
The variation in human skin coloration is due to natural selection, with different skin colors offering evolutionary advantages in different UV-light environments and cultural factors also influencing regional standards of beauty.
Step-by-step explanation:
There is a significant variation in human skin coloration due to several evolutionary factors. Answering the student's question, the best option would be e. All of these. The variation can be attributed to natural selection where traits that confer an advantage in certain environments become prevalent in those populations. The concept of directional selection helps explain why darker skin, which protects against the sun's ultraviolet rays, is more common in sunny regions. Conversely, lighter skin can be advantageous in sunlight-deprived areas, like northern Europe, due to its efficiency in producing Vitamin D from less intense sunlight. Additionally, cultural factors and sexual selection have influenced skin color variations based on regional standards of beauty and attraction.