Question
which of the following adaptive advantage to increased melanin in the tropics?
a. natural sunscreen
b. enhanced sweating/ thermoregulation
c. reduced risk of skin cancer
d. reduced folate destruction
e. all of the above
f. none of the above
a. natural sunscreen
b. enhanced sweating/ thermoregulation
c. reduced risk of skin cancer
d. reduced folate destruction
e. all of the above
f. none of the above
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is **e. all of the above**.
Increased melanin in the tropics provides several adaptive advantages:
a. **Natural sunscreen** - Melanin helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
b. **Enhanced sweating/thermoregulation** - While melanin itself does not directly enhance sweating, darker skin can provide some advantages in terms of thermoregulation under high UV exposure and heat.
c. **Reduced risk of skin cancer** - Higher levels of melanin have been associated with a lower risk of certain types of skin cancer caused by UV radiation.
d. **Reduced folate destruction** - Melanin protects against the breakdown of folate, an essential nutrient, which can be affected by UV exposure.
Thus, all of these points highlight the adaptive advantages of increased melanin in tropical environments.
Increased melanin in the tropics provides several adaptive advantages:
a. **Natural sunscreen** - Melanin helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
b. **Enhanced sweating/thermoregulation** - While melanin itself does not directly enhance sweating, darker skin can provide some advantages in terms of thermoregulation under high UV exposure and heat.
c. **Reduced risk of skin cancer** - Higher levels of melanin have been associated with a lower risk of certain types of skin cancer caused by UV radiation.
d. **Reduced folate destruction** - Melanin protects against the breakdown of folate, an essential nutrient, which can be affected by UV exposure.
Thus, all of these points highlight the adaptive advantages of increased melanin in tropical environments.