melanin is produced in the structural layer of the skin and by melanocytes cells.
melanin is produced in the structural layer of the skin and by melanocytes cells.
in what structural layer of the skin and by what cells is melanin produced?
melanocytes
genes affecting coat color generally do so by changing the process of producing melanin. melanin is the pigment that colors the hairs and skin of mammals. there are two chemically distinct types of melanin: pheomelanin, which is a red to yellow color, and eumelanin, which is brown to black. melanin is not a protein and therefore there is no gene that changes its structure directly, but there are many proteins involved in the production of melanin or the formation of melanocytes during embryonic development. mutations that change the structure of proteins with a role in melanin production can result in slightly different variations of melanin. genes affecting melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin, do not alter the structure of melanin but instead affect where and whether it is produced.
equine coat color genetics
dark pigmented people living in high sunlight environments are at an advantage due to the high amounts of melanin produced in their skin. the dark pigmentation protects from dna damage and absorbs the right amounts of uv radiation needed by the body, as well as protects against folate depletion. folate is a water-soluble vitamin b complex which naturally occurs in green, leafy vegetables, whole grains, and citrus fruits. women need folate to maintain healthy eggs, for proper implantation of eggs, and for the normal development of placenta after fertilization. folate is needed for normal sperm production in men. furthermore, folate is essential for fetal growth, organ development, and neural tube development. folate breaks down in high intense uvr. dark-skinned women suffer the lowest level of neural tube defects. folate plays an important role in dna production and gene expression. it is essential for maintaining proper levels of amino acids which make up proteins. folate is used in the formation of myelin, the sheath that covers nerve cells and makes it possible to send electrical signals quickly. folate also plays an important role in the development of many neurotransmitters, e.g. serotonin which regulates appetite, sleep, and mood. serum folate is broken down by uv radiation or alcohol consumption. because the skin is protected by the melanin, dark pigmented people have a lower chance of developing skin cancer and conditions related to folate deficiency, such as neural tube defects.
dark skin