Gene

Demography

Biology

Genetic admixture

Skin color

Trait

Genetic genealogy

Selection (genetic algorithm)

Computer science

Environmental health

Evolutionary biology

Genetics

Human evolutionary genetics

Genome

Population

Sociology

Artificial intelligence

Medicine

Programming language

Human genetic variation

Human genetics

Genetic variation

Human genome

Natural selection

Human Molecular Genetics

Skin color is a highly heritable human trait, and global variation in skin pigmentation has been shaped by natural selection, migration and admixture. Ethnically diverse African populations harbor extremely high levels of genetic and phenotypic diversity, and skin pigmentation varies widely across Africa. Recent genome-wide genetic studies of skin pigmentation in African populations have advanced our understanding of pigmentation biology and human evolutionary history. For example, novel roles in skin pigmentation for loci near MFSD12 and DDB1 have recently been identified in African populations. However, due to an underrepresentation of Africans in human genetic studies, there is still much to learn about the evolutionary genetics of skin pigmentation. Here, we summarize recent progress in skin pigmentation genetics in Africans and discuss the importance of including more ethnically diverse African populations in future genetic studies. In addition, we discuss methods for functional validation of adaptive variants related to skin pigmentation.

Evolutionary genetics of skin pigmentation in African populations