Why does human skin pigment in populations change based on how far they are from the equator?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Foods available as you move farther from the equator caused people to produce more melanin.
Foods available as you move farther from the equator caused people to produce more melanin.

Humans exposed to less UV light require less melanin to make more vitamin D for healthier bones.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Humans exposed to less UV light require less melanin to make more vitamin D for healthier bones.

As populations move farther from the equator, they are exposed to less ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In these regions, lighter skin can facilitate the production of vitamin D in conditions of lower UV light, while darker skin, which contains more melanin, can protect against the damage caused by higher UV exposure found closer to the equator. This results in an adaptive variation in skin pigment based on UV light exposure.