A group of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, located in the eastern United States, has accidentally discovered a gene that determines human skin color. Skin color has long been a complex mystery in biology. This discovery was published in the December 16 issue of Science in the United States.
Geneticists studying cancer through experiments on fish have uncovered this trait related to skin color. According to Keith Cheng, a member of the research team at the University of Pennsylvania, a change in one amino acid within a gene plays a crucial role in determining skin color. This finding helps explain why Europeans tend to have lighter skin compared to Africans.
The discovery of the role of this gene, named SLC24A5, could pave the way for further research into treatments for individuals with melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer. This finding may enable the development of methods to adjust skin color without harming the skin. Previously, scientists had identified about 100 genes that play varying roles in determining skin color.
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