Biological Perspectives on Human Pigmentation

Zusammenfassung This book presents an overview of how and why human populations vary so markedly in their skin colour. The biological aspects of the pigment cell and its production of melanin are reviewed and the functions of melanin are considered. The social and biological interface of skin colour in society is also discussed. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Biology of the pigment cell; 2. The biochemical and hormonal control of pigmentation; 3. Ultraviolet radiation and the pigmentary system; 4. Functions of melanin; 5. Non-cutaneous melanin: distribution, nature and relationship to skin melanin; 6. The properties and possible functions of non-cutaneous melanin; 7. Measurement of skin colour; 8. Disorders of hyperpigmentation; 9. Disorders of hypopigmentation; 10. Skin colour and society: the social-biological interface; 11. The evolution of skin colour; References; Index.

Product details

• Authors: Robins Ashley H., Ashley H. Robins
• Assisted by: C. G. Nicholas Mascie-Taylor (Editor)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 25.07.1991
• EAN: 9780521365147
• ISBN: 978-0-521-36514-7
• No. of pages: 268
• Series: Cambridge Studies in French
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology; Social sciences, law, business > Ethnology > Ethnology