Gene That Determines Skin Color Is Discovered, Scientists Report

NY Times ^ | December 16, 2005 | NICHOLAS WADE

[Pharmboy]

A gene that is responsible for the pale skin of Europeans and the dark skin of Africans has been discovered by scientists at Pennsylvania State University.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 percent of Europeans and the other in 93 to 100 percent of Africans, the researchers report in today's issue of Science.

The gene is unusual because with most human genes, different versions are generally shared, though one version may be more common in one race than another. One exception is the Duffy null allele, a version of a gene that prevents malaria, that is found almost exclusively in one race, sub-Saharan Africans.

The new gene falls into the same category as the Duffy gene, and it may shed light on the evolutionary pressures to which Europeans were subjected as their ancestors, who were presumably dark skinned, moved into the northern latitudes some 40,000 years ago.

snip...

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they presumably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color, said Dr. Cheng.

snip...

The intense selective pressure that drove the version to become universal in Europeans may have included sexual selection.

"In Africa people are much darker than they need to be for UV protection, so to me that screams sexual selection," Dr. Shriver said. Black skin, in other words, may have been favored by men and women in sexual partners, just as pale skin may have been preferred in sexual partners among Europeans and Asians.

[Pharmboy]

Fascinatin'...

[Pharmboy]

I don't mean for you to necessarily ping your lists, but I thought you'd be interested.

[beyond the sea]

A gene that is responsible for the pale skin of Europeans and the dark skin of Africans has been discovered by scientists at Pennsylvania State University.

Which came first ....... the gene or the hot, penetrating sun's rays?

[Just mythoughts]

"The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 percent of Europeans and the other in 93 to 100 percent of Africans, the researchers report in today's issue of Science. "

How many people have they tested? How do they know that only 1% of Europeans do not have the "white" gene? Does the word European mean "white"? So many questions?

[mkmensinger]

Michael Jackson found that gene a long time ago, it would seem.

[msnimje]

So black men who want their children to wear sunscreen are attracted to white women?

[Pharmboy]

You've just confused me more than I usually am...( :~D

[Pharmboy]

Ping...

[CarrotAndStick]

Pinging!

[Publius6961]

and it may shed light on the evolutionary pressures to which Europeans were subjected as their ancestors, who were presumably dark skinned, moved into the northern latitudes some 40,000 years ago.

It is refreshing to see the proper word used, even if only occasionally, in this sort of article.

Trouble is, this whole topic is guess piled on conjecture, founded on "presumablies" several layers deep...

[bikepacker67]

What's "fascinatin" is how they always describe Black's skin as "black" but white skin as "pale".

[kb2614]

That gene is racist!!!


;-)

[Pharmboy]

Good point. The other thing that got me is his folic acid/vitamin D stories for skin color and evolutionary pressures brought to bear by them. This is far from proven, though the way he wrote about it, it seemed a done deal.

[Jaxter]

In related news they've also discovered the gene that causes shyness. They would have found it earlier but it was hiding behind two other genes.

[from occupied ga]

A gene that is responsible for the pale skin of Europeans and the dark skin of Africans has been discovered by scientists at Pennsylvania State University. The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 percent of Europeans and the other in 93 to 100 percent of Africans, the researchers report in today's issue of Science.

It appears to also be linked to the gene that determines political affiliation

[rdb3]

It appears to also be linked to the gene that determines political affiliation

I knew that was coming.

[Pharmboy]

From the evolutionary/genetic perspective, it is interesting that the pressure for lighter skin as the populations moved north was strong enough that separate genetic change occurred in Asians and Euros to achieve that.

[Pharmboy]

Great home page, friend. Gorgeous kids...you're right.

[PatrickHenry]

Thanks. There's also another thread on this today: Scientists Find A DNA Change That Accounts For White Skin.

[Just mythoughts]

"From the evolutionary/genetic perspective, it is interesting that the pressure for lighter skin as the populations moved north was strong enough that separate genetic change occurred in Asians and Euros to achieve that."

According to the research so this article claims there was 1% of Europeans "genes" that must have rebelled and refused to mutate.