The Science of Skin Color

Melanin surrounds the _____ to protect the ____ from UV light.

• nucleus, RNA

• cytoplasm, DNA

• mitochondria, DNA

• nucleus, DNA

If your skin color is darker, which type of melanin do you produce more of?

• both of them

• eumelanin

• pheomelanin

• carotene

Melanin produced by the exposure to UV lights will

• create white spots leading to albinism

• create more moles

• creates a protection around the DNA

• leads to vitiligo

Which pigment leads to the reddish tint of the skin?

• hemoglobin

• melanin

• carotene

• no pigments give you a reddish tint

Which pigment can give your skin a yellowish/orangish tint?

• hemoglobin

• melanin

• carotene

• no pigments can give you a yellowish/orangish tint

A bruise will first give the body a reddish color because

• carotene is broken down with exposure to UV light

• the blood (with hemoglobin) is pooling in the surrounding tissue

• melanin creates a purplish color not a reddish color

White blood cells will do what with the ink from a tattoo?

• stabilize it in the dermis

• send it to the blood vessels

• take some of the ink to the lymph node

• cause it to fade by removing all of the ink in the epidermis

Your skin color is determined by how many melanocytes you have.

• True

• False