Human skin color diversity is highest in sub-Saharan African populations.
Previous studies of genetic and craniometric traits have found higher levels of within-population diversity in sub-Saharan Africa compared to other geographic regions. This study examines regional differences in within-population diversity of human skin color. Published data on skin reflectance were collected for 98 male samples from eight geographic regions: sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Europe, West Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Australasia, and the New World. Regional differences in local within-population diversity were examined using two measures of variability: the sample variance and the sample coefficient of variation. For both measures, the average level of within-population diversity is higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in other geographic regions. This difference persists even after adjusting for a correlation between within-population diversity and distance from the equator. Though affected by natural selection, skin color variation shows the same pattern of higher African diversity as found with other traits.
Relethford
J H
JH
Department of Anthropology, State University of New York College at Oneonta, 13820, USA.
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000352:Africa, Northern; D000569:Americas; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001208:Asia; D001315:Australia; D005060:Europe; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*