Premium
Solomon Islander skin pigmentation: Ultrastructural differences related to genetic variation in Melanesia
Author(s) -
Garcia Raul I.,
Mitchell Ruth E.,
Bloom Jerry,
Szabo George
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330600304
Subject(s) - melanosome , evolutionary biology , variation (astronomy) , population , biology , pacific islanders , race (biology) , genetic variation , zoology , demography , genetics , botany , sociology , melanin , physics , astrophysics
Genetic differences between Solomon Islander populations are distinguishable on the basis of melanosome packaging in epidermal keratinocytes. By electron microscopic study of skin pigmentation in various Melanesian populations, we have found distinct inter‐island differences in the mode of melanosome packaging. Melanosomes are found as singlets in the skin of Bougainville Islanders but are found aggregated in melanosome complexes in Malaita Islanders and Ontong Javanese. This variation in melanosome packaging represents an important biologic difference found between Solomon Islanders and may reflect the genetic diversity existing in the original Melanesian founding population or populations.