Question

That different tones of skin color in humans arose as adaptations to the intensity of ultraviolet radiation in different parts of the world.

If her hypothesis is correct, predict the characteristics of the environment where the most heavily pigmented human populations are likely to be found, and where are the least pigmented humans likely to be found?

Answer 1

Heavily pigmented populations are found in regions with high ultraviolet radiation near the equator, while least pigmented populations reside in areas with less ultraviolet exposure, such as northern Europe. This variation in skin pigmentation is a result of evolutionary adaptation to balance protection against UV damage and the need for Vitamin D synthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Heavily pigmented human populations are most likely to be found in regions with high intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, such as near the equator, while least pigmented humans are likely to be found in areas with lower UV radiation, like northern Europe. Skin pigmentation is an adaptation that allows for the regulation of UV radiation effects on the body. Conversely, in regions farther from the equator with less sunlight, particularly where it is cloudy or where there are long winters with short days, lighter skin pigmentation helps with the synthesis of Vitamin D.

The patterns of skin coloration that we observe across different human populations reveal a gradient correlating with geographic location and exposure to sunlight. This gradient demonstrates natural selection's influence on the evolution of skin color in response to environmental factors.