Variation of Genetic Characteristics Among Africans
Africans are generally considered black because of their dark skin colour. However, Africans have varying skin tones and hair textures despite them being of the same race. There are African-American people who have parents coming from both races. This people exhibit different characteristics from their parents in terms of hair texture, skin tone and facial features. There are several factors that influence the different skin tones and hair texture among Africans.
Skin pigmentation is visibly different and variable in Africa. In countries close to the equator, you will find that the Africans there have darker skins compared to those living away from the equator. This is because they have more melanin composition which protects them from the harsh sun rays. This dark skin is capable of tanning when exposed to UVR and therefore preventing the naked skin from risks such as skin cancer. However, over the years, there has been significant climate and environmental changes that have influenced skin tone among Africans. Also, another significant factor that has influenced to a change in skin tone among Africans is interracial marriages. Children with parents from Africa and another from a different race exhibit different physical features. Their skin tone is lighter but not as white as the other parent’s. when such a child grows up and marries an African, they will pass on the interracial genes to their child. If the trend goes on, the descendants of the interracial person will pass on the genes and this will create a different skin tone for those Africans
There is little difference when it comes to hair texture among Africans and why it does not grow to be as long as other races. Sub-Saharan Africans have tightly curled Afro-textured hair which is slightly different from the northern people who exhibit less tight and loosely curled hair. The only factor that can influence hair texture is interracial marriage where the child will have long but Afro-textured hair.
In conclusion, although Africans come from the same continent and their genetic composition does not have much difference, there are some notable variations that are influenced by factors such as climate, environment and interracial marriages.