Science or Science Fiction? Theories Say All Humans Were Once White
What caught my attention recently is an article published in the National Geographic regarding studies of pigmentation in humans. Professor of cell biology at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, Mel Greaves reviewed studies of cancer in Albino Africans. Considering the lack of melanin and the high risk of damage by the sun because of this, ultimately the professor concluded that all humans were once light skinned, became darker and then returned to being light skinned.
The need for darker skin, Greaves believes, was an evolutionary move to combat the UV rays of the sun. Greaves believed that earlier human beings, hominids had shed their hair when living in hot climates such as Africa, thus exposing their pale skin. He believes skin cancer is the driving force that sparked skin pigmentation to evolve into darker skin. Due to natural selection, some adjusted to the hot climate while others moved north to colder climates for protection.
It took some time for me to digest what I was reading. I think there was more so a need for understanding than judging to not only question this article but to ponder if it could really be true.
I have more questions than answers and I believe that this should be taken into consideration when drawing such a theory.
In today’s world due to pollution, we’re told that it’s destroying the ozone layer which protects us from the sun. With that being said, if this were millions of years ago, wouldn’t the ozone layer have been a much stronger force than it is now?
When we look at those with much more melanin in their skin, they can develop vitiligo or produce Albino children. Wouldn’t there be someone that could develop a condition that would be THE OPPOSITE of vitiligo or give birth to a child that is DARK skinned? Wouldn’t this happen if not often, but enough to know it exists?
If you look at that people of color, their pigmentation ranges from dark to light. This with Asians, Africans, Hispanics, and so on. Based on society, you have people of color and you have white.
And when you look at those that are white or with lighter skin, when overexposed to the sun, they do not develop more melanin. Unfortunately their skin is damaged thus increasing their risk for skin cancer.
I think if this were to be true, the evidence that we have left today would be reverse. Dark features are dominant in their make up where as light skin and light colored eyes are recessive. An albino is someone BORN WITHOUT melanin in their skin. In addition, blue eyes is a genetic mutation as well.
“Originally, we all had brown eyes,” said Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen. Scientists have found that blue eyes occurred 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.
The mutation affected the OCA2 gene, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and SKIN.
Without melanin, what is the result?
Greaves stated “The genetic evidence suggests that black skin became the norm in Africa some 1.2 million years ago.” If in the beginning humans were light skinned and could not tolerate such a climate condition, then why is the evidence of the first mother “Lucy” found in Harden, Ethiopia, Africa (which was 3.2 million years old and she has dark skin)?
Is this science or scientific racism making a comeback?
Check out these awesome links about “Lucy” and genetic mutation in eyes and skin. Peep the pics too! Interesting enough, prior to this article the National Geographic made an article about Lucy with an interesting picture of her. Before you believe anything that’s told to you, question and THINK!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060920-lucy.html
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1103/features/meetlucy.htm
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/OCA2
