Evolution of skin color

Biology, Physics, Chemistry. 23/09/10

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This is a conversation with Nina Jablonski. She is a Professor of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University. Her work focuses on Evolution of Human Skin and STEM education. In this conversation we talk about Origin of human races, science of skin, skin color variation in nonhuman primates imagined reality of skin pigmentation and major questions in the science of skin today.


About the guest

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:00:54 From a primatologist to a leading expert on skin pigmentation

  • 00:03:39 Origin of races

  • 00:07:55 Views of Charles Darwin on variation in skin color

  • 00:09:52 Ancestors of humans evolved in Africa

  • 00:13:33 Narrowing regions of Africa for humans ancestory

  • 00:16:16 Migration of sapiens outside Africa

  • 00:18:34 Advantages of being a Naked Ape

  • 00:22:06 Hairy timeline of the skin

  • 00:24:40 Skin is not present in fossils

  • 00:28:19 Importance of vitamin D

  • 00:32:08 Variation in skin color in nonhuman primates

  • 00:39:37 Importance of skin pigmentation for the survival

  • 00:46:00 Science slams racial discrimination

  • 00:49:03 Power of touch

  • 00:52:17 Imagined reality of skin color

  • 00:53:45 Implications of population genetic studies

  • 00:57:35 Major questions in the science of skin

  • 01:00:15 Ideas for teachers and social workers

  • 01:02:07 How to contact Nina

  • 01:04:16 Thank you!

Timestamps