3 ms·
The genetic history of human skin colour is really amazing. All our ancestor had fair skin because of body hair (Chimps have fairish skin under all their body h
by danieltillett 8y ago
The genetic history of human skin colour is really amazing. All our ancestor had fair skin because of body hair (Chimps have fairish skin under all their body hair), we then became dark skinned as we lost most of our body hair, and then those of us who had ancestors that lived far from the equator became fair again.
As someone who has the ancestry of people who lived far from the equator and now lives in a country that is much closer to the equator I wish we hadn't lost our body hair.
- mirimir 8y agoHuh. I guess that I've never seen a shaved chimp. But now that I think of it, hairless mice have light-colored skin. Some hairless dogs too.
- danieltillett 8y agoYes if you are covered with hair you not only don’t need dark skin for UV protection, but it will likely interfere with your ability to synthesise vitamin D. Also why waste energy synthesising something you don’t need (melanin).