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From genesis to gene sequencing: historical progress in the understanding of skin color
Author(s) -
Millington George W. M.,
Levell Nick J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2006.03068.x
Subject(s) - greeks , skin color , medicine , natural (archaeology) , evolutionary biology , history , biology , classics , paleontology , artificial intelligence , computer science
Since at least biblical times, humans have pondered on why there might be variation in skin color and what might constitute the nature of that difference. In this article, two historical trails are followed, one beginning with the Ancient Greeks, the other with the Ancient Chinese. These two paths converge to provide us with some historical evidence to back recent scientific discoveries in the dynamic regulation of skin pigmentation, focusing on melanocyte‐stimulating hormone and its natural antagonist agouti‐signaling protein.