Melanin

cancer where melanocytesproliferate actively with enhanced accumulation of melaninpigment leading to hyperpigmentation and tumor formation. Up-regulated levels oftyrosinase enzyme appear to be correlated to with greater production and accumulation of melanin which induces skin cancer. Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is an oxygen oxidoreductase enzyme involved in vertebrate cutaneous pigmentation, browning of fruits and vegetables, and morphogenesis and fruiting body formation in fungi. It catalyzses…

unique ability. Pigment causes skin tone for just about every animal, including humans. Unlike people chameleons have different uses for pigment. In a chameleon, hormones effect pigment cells, which leads to their change of colour. The movement of melanin pigment “packets”, contained in melanophores, changes the animal’s shade. A chameleon has many layers of skin. Its main layers are the outer layer, yellow layer, and the scattering layer. Its first layer is see through so the pigments are…

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions and are inexhaustible. They can increase the rate at which reactions occur by up to a factor of 10^19. The material that is being acted on by the enzyme is called a substrate. Enzymes work because they can bind to the transition state better than the substrate, which lowers the activation energy causing the speed of a reaction to accelerate. The enzyme combines with a substrate at the enzymes active site which creates the enzyme…

Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that reduce melanin synthesis and lessen skin damage caused by UVR33. Administration of grape seed extract to mice demonstrated that GSPs can inhibit UVR-induced tumour growth, size and incidence33. Polyunsaturated fatty acids could also protect skin against UV damage…

NiaPearl Minor-Clark is a activist for black empowerment, who is not afraid to embrace her melanin. Her promotion of empowerment for people of color and them being comfortable in their skin, makes her a true leader. You can follow her on Instagram @tahnee_india_oshun. 1. What makes you proud to embrace your melanin? My melanin shows that I am from royalty. It lets us know that any obstacles that we face, we can come out notorious from it. It’s not just a skin color. It has a strong history since…

This gene regulates the distribution of melanin, a dark-colored pigment, within the hair shafts of felines. Melanism, the opposite of albinism, is a condition characterized by the induced, excessive development of melanin within the outer coverings of an organism, resulting in a darkened appearance and black or brown colored extremities. The effected organism still possesses the…

The concept of “blending” as championed by such scholars as Aristotle and Hippocrates states that any trait that an offspring receives is the average of both of its parents. This concept was widely believed until Mendel’s experiments. Incomplete dominance occurs when the heterozygous phenotype is an intermediate between both of the homozygous genotypes. This concept is demonstrated best through the inheritance of petal color in a snapdragon. In a heterozygote the phenotype would be pink, a mix…

How does the sun harm us? : Skin exposure to UV light causes sunburn. Abigail Pereira The Sun is the center of the universe. Sunlight is essential to all living organisms on the earth. However excess exposure to the sun may causes immense damage to living organisms as follows. Skin cancer (1) is caused due to mutations in the DNA of our skin cells. These mutations cause the cells to create big cancer cells in the body. Most of the damage caused to your DNA cells are mostly due to UV rays. The…

Oculocutaneous Albinism I have oculocutaneous albinism which is an inherited disorder characterized by a reduction or complete lack of melanin pigment in the hair, skin and eyes. These conditions are caused by mutations in specific genes that are necessary for the production of melanin pigment in specialized cells called melanocytes which are found in your skin and eyes. Oculocutaneous albinism is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic condition. I was diagnosed when I was three months…

in the hair removal game, but is it worth all the hype? Who wouldn’t want a way to get rid of unwanted hair for long periods of time with the possibility that it would never grow up? But, how does it work? The concentrated laser beam targets the melanin found in hair. The pigment absorbs the light, damaging the follicle so that it hinders growth. While it seems to be a great way to diminish hair growth, it has its pros and cons. Keep reading for a list of the pros and cons of laser hair…