| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (52 min. 2 sec.) ; 313526134 bytes |
| Summary |
For hundreds of years, people have been discriminated against because of their skin colour. In Skin Deep, anthropologist Nina Jablonski reveals the science behind skin pigmentation and its crucial role in survival and reproduction. She also raises the notion that light-skinned people are mutants of dark-skinned people, putting a whole new spin on the notion of racism.When our ancient ancestors in Equatorial Africa lost their body hair and ventured out into the open savannah, their skin had to darken to resist strong UV radiation. Perfectly adapted to the environment, black African skin is one of Nature's greatest achievements for the survival of the human species.Her startling proposal is that pigmentation did not evolve to prevent skin cancer, but primarily to help the human body maintain the right balance of two crucial vitamins - vitamin D and folic acid - which are essential for body development and reproduction.As a result, skin colour developed as a perfect compromise: allowing enough sunlight to stimulate the production of Vitamin D, but screening the body from harmful rays that destroy folic acid.Focusing on ground-breaking research, the program reveals that skin colour is solely an adaptation to the environment. It shows that judging people on the basis of colour is not only morally unacceptable, but scientifically wrong. (Commissioned by SBS) (Documentary) PG CC |
| Notes |
Closed captioning in English |
| Event |
Broadcast 2011-01-02 at 20:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: PG |
| Subject |
Human skin color.
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Melanins.
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Racism.
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Skin -- Effect of radiation on.
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Ultraviolet radiation -- Physiological effect.
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Australia.
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Pennsylvania.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Di Chiera, Franco, director
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Vuletic, Jennifer, cast
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