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. 2013 Jun;64(6):687-92.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.02.003. Epub 2013 Mar 9.

Re-appraisal of current theories for the development and loss of epidermal pigmentation in hominins and modern humans

Peter M Elias  1 , Mary L Williams
Affiliations

Re-appraisal of current theories for the development and loss of epidermal pigmentation in hominins and modern humans

Peter M Elias et al. J Hum Evol. 2013 Jun.
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Epidermis – Melanocyte Cross-Talk
Highly-conserved genes in darkly-pigmented skin acidify the stratum corneum, thereby improving barrier function in the face of extreme xeric stress and high amounts of erythemogenic UV-B irradiation. Whether environmental stress upregulates mechanisms that increase pigmentation (e.g., pro-opiomelanocortin [POMC]), leading to increased α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is not known. Likewise, the impact of environmental stress on melanosome acidification and pigment production in melanocytes is unknown.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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