European Skin Turned Pale Only Recently, Gene Suggests

Science ^ | April 2007 | Ann Gibbons

[null and void]

Moving North doesn't make skin whiter (if that were true, there wouldn't be any black people in the US).

Compare the skin tones of an Afro-American to an African. People whose ancestry dates back to antebellum America are distinctly paler than recent African immigrants.

[null and void]

So, what is your theory about the origin of pale skin?

Our ancestors weren't left in the oven long enough...

[null and void]

And funkle...

[eleni121]

Thanks for the reality check on this hyped up pseudo science.

[Alter Kaker]

Compare the skin tones of an Afro-American to an African. People whose ancestry dates back to antebellum America are distinctly paler than recent African immigrants.

That's primarily because of interracial relations with the white community (with a few other factors coming into play), but not at all because of geography.

[Alter Kaker]

Its now politically correct to emphasize the similarity between the races and this theory does exactly that. In reality, skin pigmentation is only a suerficial distinction between “black” “white” and “oriental” humans.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Nobody's claiming that there aren't genetic differences between people of different races. However, every available study shows that genetic differences within races are greater than genetic differences between races. That makes race a very suspect measure of genetic variance.

[null and void]

Bingo. We are more alike than we are different.

[CarrotAndStick]

I know that, and that’s why I say again that this theory is nonsense.

[ZULU]

Well, there are physical anthropologists who will argue that point and forensic scientists who can identify race by skeletal remains.

I suggest you take up your argument with them.

There are also disorder’s like Thalassemia, and Sickle-cell anemia which are race specific indicating the distinctions between racial groups are more than merely skeletal or pigmentational.

[Ptarmigan]

I have noticed a lot of pale skinned people in the Middle East, especially from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Alexander is part of the factor. Also, many European crusaders mixed with the inhabitants.

[Ptarmigan]

I’ve seen Indians with non-Indian last names.

[Ptarmigan]

Some Blacks I have seen kinda look more Caucasian to me, especially their hair, which seems to more straight. Also, their facial features are more Caucasian-like.

[Ciexyz]

An example of cultural selection: During times of New World colonialization, when interbreeding between white European settlers and native populations took place (including interbreeding between newly-imported slaves and both the native populations and white settlers), lighter skin tones became the desired ideal.

In other words, a person's status in society went up as his skin tone became lighter (more white).

[Ptarmigan]

That’s very true. I believe that’s true in almost every culture.

[Ciexyz]

I believe that's true in almost every culture.

Unfortunately, yes. A difficult concept to even discuss because it's so politically charged.

[happygrl]

Our ancestors weren't left in the oven long enough...

Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee.....

[Sam Ketcham]

I cannot recall. I was very little then

[wildbill]

Strangely enough the Europeans are going through another evolutionary change of skin color.

Since dealing with the jihadists, they are turning yellow.

[PistolPaknMama]

My Dad’s family is of Irish descent and have the same dark features you describe. When I researched the family name I discovered they descended from the “black irish” which resulted from the spanish invasion of Ireland. That might explain your family’s dark features as well. Worth researching, if you’re curious.

[Old Student]

“Skin color is not nessicarly dominant or rcessive. Mulattos have skin that is a half way between black and white.”

And some of them have skin light enough to “pass.” ONE of the problems with the “Melting Pot” is quite a few folks find looks different from their own attractive. That may well also be one of the positive aspects, too.