Final answer:
Skin color in humans is indeed an example of continuous variation, lacking clear boundaries to separate races based on skin pigmentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, skin color in humans is an example of continuous variation, indicating no clear dividing lines between human races based on skin color. Biological anthropology has demonstrated that race is not a scientifically valid concept for categorizing humans. This perspective is supported by research showing that traits such as skin color exhibit a continuous spectrum and do not align with the socially constructed racial categories. As humans migrated and adapted to different levels of sunlight exposure, skin pigmentation evolved as a form of adaptation. Darker skin provided protection against ultraviolet radiation, while lighter skin facilitated vitamin D absorption in areas with less sunlight. This illustrates that skin color variation is a gradient influenced by geography and ultraviolet exposure rather than discrete racial categories. The concept of race, often associated with characteristics like skin color, fails to reflect the complex genetic variation within the human species. Modern genetic research has reinforced the idea that there is more genetic diversity within so-called racial groups than between them. Anthropologists and geneticists suggest focusing on ancestry rather than race to better understand human genetic diversity and avoid the inaccuracies and potential harm of racial categorization.