by Lauren Smith (41741801)
With the incredible resources now available for mapping entire genomes comes the huge task of linking genotype to phenotype. Human skin pigmentation is one such area currently being investigated.
Skin Colour is determined by a combination of the thickness of one's skin and its level of melanin; the thicker one's skin, the 'yellower' it's pigmentation and the higher one's level of melanin, the darker one's skin.
Recent studies have identified specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)which are genetic markers that impact the melanin biosynthesis pathway or melanosome biogenesis and hence skin pigmentation.
Such SNPs have been identified in the following genes:
TYR, TYRP1, OCA2, SLC45A2, SLC24A5
SLC24A4, IRF4, TPCN2, MC1R, ASIP, KITLG
This research has applications in fields ranging from the history of human evolution to treatment for albinos (humans with no melanin).
These findings are just a fragment of the slowly mounting evidence that Geneticists are beginning to understand the code which is the very language of life - DNA.
Reference list:
Sturm, R A (2009)Molecular Genetics of Human Pigmentation Diversity
US national Library of Medicine; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
To find out more:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19297406?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=5&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed
http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~pfuerst/courses/eeobmg640/reading2skincolor.pdf
Related Articles of Interest:
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/latest/black-white-skin
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28471626/
