The response explains negative selection in equatorial Africa in relation to MC1R allele diversity and why the protective benefits of darker skin outweigh the risk of skin cancer, as highlighted by Dr. Jablonski.
Negative selection refers to the process where a trait, like light skin coloration in equatorial Africa, is disadvantageous and decreases in frequency due to natural selection. In African populations, the MC1R allele diversity may be lower in regions with high UV radiation, indicating a correlation between sunlight intensity and skin color adaptation.
Dr. Jablonski dismisses the hypothesis of protection from skin cancer driving the evolution of darker skin in our ancestors because the benefits of darker skin in protecting against UV radiation and folate depletion outweigh the risk of skin cancer, making it a more plausible selective pressure for skin color evolution.
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