Evolution of skin color

Siemowit · Post by **Siemowit** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:38 pm

Evolution of skin color

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Post by Siemowit » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:38 pm

I would like to ask you a question about the evolution of skin color.

My friend claimed that black people would become white after 10 generations if they lived in Europe (without racial mixing). Is it true ?

I thought that evolution works slower. How long would it take them to evolve from black skin to white skin ?

mith · Post by **mith** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:24 am

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Post by mith » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:24 am

You should ask more about selection.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
~Niebuhr

Siemowit · Post by **Siemowit** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:54 pm

Re: Evolution of skin color

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Post by Siemowit » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:54 pm

It seems that nobody knows the answer to my question. I have asked many people on internet (also scientists) and the only answer was when skin color probably evolved.

I would like to know how long would take that evolution. 1000 of years or rather tens thousands of years ?

Siemowit · Post by **Siemowit** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:55 pm

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Post by Siemowit » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:55 pm

Or maybe 10 generations ?

Darby · Post by **Darby** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:53 am

Re: Evolution of skin color

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Post by Darby » Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:53 am

As mentioned above, the change rate is dependent on the power of the selection. With Vitamin D supplements available, there may be no real selection (although there are other factors at work).

mith · Post by **mith** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:46 am

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Post by mith » Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:46 am

I mean it makes no sense to refer to number of generations...for instance if you had bacteria, one generation is like 20billion individuals--hey can have a lot more variations than say 1000 humans. Secondly, if you had no selection factor, why would you adapt in a particular direction? Let's say that being whiter wasn't harmful but not beneficial, eventually you'd be less tan...but compare that to if being white was the difference between life and death. (for the sake of this argument we assume that skin color is being carried on a couple of melanin genes).

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
~Niebuhr

alextemplet · Post by **alextemplet** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:00 pm

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Post by alextemplet » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:00 pm

How much of skin color is genetic? Could it also have to do with diet?

Generally speaking, the more people talk about "being saved," the further away they actually are from true salvation.

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mcar · Post by **mcar** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:07 pm

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Post by mcar » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:07 pm

In Darwin's Origin of Species, there's a part there that even food preferences could possibly be a factor to cause variation in the skin color of an animal.

---Just one act of random kindness at a time and you can change the world---

alextemplet · Post by **alextemplet** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:23 pm

Re: Evolution of skin color

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Post by alextemplet » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:23 pm

Exactly; that's why flamingos are pink.

Generally speaking, the more people talk about "being saved," the further away they actually are from true salvation.

~Alex
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pankaaj · Post by **pankaaj** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:27 am

Re: Evolution of skin color

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Post by pankaaj » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:27 am

i guess, We dont know what really affects skin colour in humans.So selection on what basis?
And why?
In human community, many factors are involved in selection like intellectual powers, way of thinking, social and economical status etc.
Skin colour is negligible, a character in selection!

Siemowit wrote:I would like to ask you a question about the evolution of skin color.

My friend claimed that black people would become white after 10 generations if they lived in Europe (without racial mixing). Is it true ?

I thought that evolution works slower. How long would it take them to evolve from black skin to white skin ?

Take it with a pintch of salt!