Case #7: Skin Color Around the World

Case #7: Skin Color Around the World

Around the world, populations near the equator and in areas of high altitude have darker skin (their skin produces more melanin). Populations at northern latitudes have lighter skin- their skin produces less melanin.

1. What forces of evolution are at work? Tick all that apply.

___ Mutation

___ Natural Selection

___ Genetic Drift

___ Gene Flow

2. Specifically, how is natural selection involved?

3. Explain how the forces of evolution shift allele frequencies in the population over time. Your answer should include all of the forces of evolution that you identified as being employed (above). Put this information into a narrative to explain how new traits are introduced, how individuals are selected (if present), and how alleles in the population shift over time.

Bozeman Science. (n.d.). Natural selection and evolution [Video]. YouTube.

Amoeba Sisters. (n.d.). Gene flow, genetic drift, mutation, and natural selection [Video]. YouTube.