Megan Lacombe

Ms. Naughton
Honors Anatomy
January 6, 2016
Questions!
1. Explain what accounts for individual differences in skin color and discuss the response of
melanocytes to sunlight exposure
Skin color is caused by the amount of melanin in the skin. Dark skinned people will have
more melanin because they originated in hotter areas where there was more sun exposure (they
were closer to the equator). Fair skinned people have less melanin and they originated in cooler
areas where there was less sun exposure. Everyone has the same number of melanocytes so skin
color has nothing to do with the number of melanocytes, only the amount of melanin they
produce. When melanocytes are exposed to sunlight, they attempt to cover the nuclei of cells in
melanin to protect them from the harmful UV rays which may damage DNA.

!
2. Describe the interaction between sunlight & vitamin D production.
UV light exposure is what causes the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary to
store calcium and phosphorous. Low vitamin D can cause rickets. This helps our bones and teeth
remain strong.