The Evolutionary History of Human Skin Pigmentation

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020-07-30

Authors

Rocha, J (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Molecular Evolution

Vol. 88

Pages: 77-87

ISSN: 0022-2844

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 26 Citations

Scopus - 26 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-WMM

DOI: 10.1007/s00239-019-09902-7

Abstract (EN): Skin pigmentation is a complex, conspicuous, highly variable human trait that exhibits a remarkable correlation with latitude. The evolutionary history and genetic basis of skin color variation has been the subject of intense research in the last years. This article reviews the major hypotheses explaining skin color diversity and explores the implications of recent findings about the genes associated with skin pigmentation for understanding the evolutionary forces that have shaped the current patterns of skin color variation. A major aspect of these findings is that the genetic basis of skin color is less simple than previously thought and that geographic variation in skin pigmentation was influenced by the concerted action of different types of natural selection, rather than just by selective sweeps in a few key genes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11