Why Do Humans Have Such Different Skin Colors?

Imagine your skin is like a canvas, and melanin is the paint. Some people have more of that paint, they look darker. Others have less, they look lighter. This happens because of something called genes. Just like how you can have different colored hair or eyes, your parents' genes give you a certain color of skin.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A baby born to a fair-skinned mother and a dark-skinned father might have a medium skin tone.
  2. People with darker skin can tan more easily than those with lighter skin.
  3. In some families, siblings can have very different skin colors.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity