What is the pigment responsible for producing color in the skin?

What is the pigment responsible for producing color in the skin?

• A. Hemoglobin
• B. Carotene
• C. Melanin
• D. Chlorophyll

Answer: (C)

Melanin is the pigment primarily responsible for determining the color of skin, hair, and eyes in humans and many other organisms. It is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, which are found in the skin's epidermis. The varying levels and types of melanin result in different skin tones and contribute to the skin's protective abilities against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. In contrast, hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color, but it does not influence skin pigmentation. Carotene, a pigment found in many plants, can give a yellow-orange tint to the skin but is not the primary contributor to skin color in humans. Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants that is essential for photosynthesis, and it has no role in skin color. Thus, melanin is the correct choice as it directly produces the pigmentation seen in human skin.

Melanin is the pigment primarily responsible for determining the color of skin, hair, and eyes in humans and many other organisms. It is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, which are found in the skin's epidermis. The varying levels and types of melanin result in different skin tones and contribute to the skin's protective abilities against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

In contrast, hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color, but it does not influence skin pigmentation. Carotene, a pigment found in many plants, can give a yellow-orange tint to the skin but is not the primary contributor to skin color in humans. Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants that is essential for photosynthesis, and it has no role in skin color. Thus, melanin is the correct choice as it directly produces the pigmentation seen in human skin.