melanin
Coloring in skin
Melanin is the pigment that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes in humans and animals.
Produced by cells called melanocytes, it determines whether skin is pale or dark, hair is blonde or black, eyes are blue or brown.
Melanin also provides some protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun—darker skin burns less easily.
People with more melanin tend to have lower rates of skin cancer.
Brown-black biological pigment
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- chromophoreMolecule's tint-causing portion
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
tyrosine · polymer · hue · tint · shade · neuromelanin · granule · synthesis
Shielding from ultraviolet radiation
- sunscreenUV-blocking skin cream
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- sunburnUV-induced skin inflammation
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
SPF · photodamage · DNA repair · photoaging · absorption · shield · sun exposure · UVA
Skin tone, appearance
- skin toneBody's surface coloration
- epidermisOutermost tissue layer
- frecklesPigmented skin spots
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
vitiligo · albinism · hyperpigmentation · melasma · nevus · birthmark · tanning · dermis
Pigment of strands
- eye colorPigmentation of iris
- irisEye's pigmented disc
- retinaLight-sensing tissue layer
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
fur · cephalopod · camouflage · mimicry · plumage · coloration · cuttlefish · octopus
Hereditary information unit
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- polymorphismMany forms, one interface
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
expression · mutation · variation · trait · inheritance · chromosome · dominant · recessive
eumelanin
Brown-black biological pigment
- pigmentationNatural tissue coloring
- chromophoreMolecule's tint-causing portion
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
biosynthesis · tyrosine · polymer · hue · tint · shade · neuromelanin · granule · synthesis · oxidation
UV protection
Shielding from ultraviolet radiation
- sunscreenUV-blocking skin cream
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- sunburnUV-induced skin inflammation
radiation · SPF · photodamage · DNA repair · photoaging · absorption · shield · sun exposure · UVA · UVB
complexion
Skin tone, appearance
moles · vitiligo · albinism · hyperpigmentation · melasma · nevus · birthmark · tanning · dermis · dermatology
hair color
Pigment of strands
feathers · fur · cephalopod · camouflage · mimicry · plumage · coloration · cuttlefish · octopus · squid
gene
Hereditary information unit
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- polymorphismMany forms, one interface
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
phenotype · expression · mutation · variation · trait · inheritance · chromosome · dominant · recessive · genotype
- skin anatomydermis, epidermis, hypodermis, subcutis, cutis
- Biopigmentschlorophyll, carotenoid, carotenoids, lutein, lycopene
- bird pigmentseumelanin, carotenoids
- tyrosine biochemistrytyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, catecholamines
- wing pigmentseumelanin
- skincarecream, lotion, moisturizer, facial, serum
melaninalbinism
Inherited melanin deficiency
depigmentation · vitiligo · pallor · paleness · hypomelanosis
- melancholy moodState of pensive sorrow
- melancholy toneSorrowful expressive quality
- autumn melancholySadness evoked by fall
melancholy, melanoma, melanocyte, melanism, melanocytes, melanins, melanization