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To: Mulch
I'm not sure I know what you mean by "tied in to particular environments".

High levels of UV light require darker skin, while very dry and cold air requires a narrow and large nose to heat incoming air. There are several groups along the equator who share some of the traits of Pygmies because they live in similar environments, but in terms of descent they are not closely related.

Nordic peoples tend to have very light skin to allow absorption of UV light which is needed to create vitamin D.

But Eskimos do not have such light skin. They live too far north to absorb UV light through the skin (even if they could expose it to the bitter cold), and so they must obtain vitamin D from other sources (e.g., fish oils). Not surprisingly, their skin is darker, as there is no selection pressure for it to be as light as the Nordics.

All of this is a fascinating study--people are almost infinitely adaptable. There are several good books out there I could recommend if you are interested.

But again, these traits have little to do with actual descent, as they can change in a few thousand years to match a new or changing environment.

14 posted on 09/30/2005 6:34:38 PM PDT by Coyoteman (I love the sound of beta decay in the morning!)
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To: Coyoteman
So your saying that each race adapted to their particular environment?
18 posted on 09/30/2005 6:57:11 PM PDT by Mulch (tm)
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