[Mogollon]

The article fails to mention what effect vitamin D (or lack thereof) had on melanin or melanotropin production. Pigmentation is controlled by melanotropin and the relative lack of constant sunlight in northern climes could cause a reduction in melanotropin release from the pituitary gland, thus causing less melanin pigmentation.

The article states that white europeans "could have" evolved 5500 years ago. Then again, maybe not.

[Just mythoughts]

It was only when early humans gave up hunter-gathering and switched to farming about 5,500 years ago that white skin began to be favoured, say the researchers.

Actually their problem word is 'switched'.

[decimon]

The article fails to mention what effect vitamin D (or lack thereof) had on melanin or melanotropin production. Pigmentation is controlled by melanotropin and the relative lack of constant sunlight in northern climes could cause a reduction in melanotropin release from the pituitary gland, thus causing less melanin pigmentation.

I don't think they're saying that vitamin D effects melanin production. This would be survival of the fittest and the fittest would have been the lighter skinned in a northern agricultural society.

[This I Wonder32460]

You speak the difference between a theory and the truth.
One is maybe, maybe not and the other is . . .

[truthfreedom]

I think the argument, which wasn’t well stated, goes something like this.

Vitamin D is necessary, without it, you die.

Before agriculture, sufficient Vitamin D was available through the food that was eaten.

When people in Northern Europe started agriculture, there was not enough Vitamin D in the food.

People with lighter skin make Vitamin D easier than people with darker skin.

People with darker skin died sooner than people with lighter skin in Northern Europe from conditions related to Vitamin D deficiency. The people with the lightest skin would live the longest, and reproduce.

Perhaps there was the flu back then.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2325254/posts
Vitamin D is recommended for Swine Flu.