eli5: If more melanin is advantageous in warm climates, why is less of it advantageous in colder climates? Wouldn’t darker skin still be most advantageous in cold climates where it might occasionally be hot?

Question

eli5: If more melanin is advantageous in warm climates, why is less of it advantageous in colder climates? Wouldn’t darker skin still be most advantageous in cold climates where it might occasionally be hot?

In: 1641

Answer 1

Melanin is better for climates with more sunlight, it’s not about temperature. There’s places with alot of sunlight that are cold and the people still have more melanin. Having melanin isn’t as important in places with less or milder sun light so it’s not produced as much