Sexual Selection And Light Skin Differences
There are two main hypotheses explaining the origin of human skin variation.
One is based on natural selection. This took place in the tropics, as natural selection favoured dark skinned people.
The other is sexual selection. This occurred in areas away from the tropics, because Darwin believed that on average, people with lighter skin are preferred as sexual partners. (2)
- Those who support sexual selection, question how light skin has any adaptive value. They argue that those who have Vitamin D deficiency don’t have enough impact to be a selection pressure.
- Those with dark coloured skin tend to have a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency. (2)
Some have suggested that light skin developed to optimise the production of vitamin D.
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One is based on natural selection. This took place in the tropics, as natural selection favoured dark skinned people.
The other is sexual selection. This occurred in areas away from the tropics, because Darwin believed that on average, people with lighter skin are preferred as sexual partners. (2)
- Those who support sexual selection, question how light skin has any adaptive value. They argue that those who have Vitamin D deficiency don’t have enough impact to be a selection pressure.
- Those with dark coloured skin tend to have a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency. (2)
Some have suggested that light skin developed to optimise the production of vitamin D.
It