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- ARTICLE:
Laura J. Williams, Sonja A. Rasmussen, Alina Flores, Russell S. Kirby, and Larry D. Edmonds
- Decline in the Prevalence of Spina Bifida and Anencephaly by Race/Ethnicity: 1995–2002
Pediatrics 2005; 116: 580-586
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Reason for lower rates of NTDs in "black" populations
- Katherine A. Dettwyler
(17 January 2008)
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Reason for lower rates of NTDs in "black" populations |
17 January 2008 |
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Katherine A. Dettwyler,
Anthropology Professor
University of Delaware
Send letter to journal:
Re: Reason for lower rates of NTDs in "black" populations
kathyd{at}udel.edu Katherine A. Dettwyler
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The authors don't cite the research linking heavily-pigmented skin to
the protection of circulating folate from UVB radiation-induced
photolysis. See Jablonski, Nina G., and George Chaplin, "The evolution of
human skin coloration." Journal of Human Evolution, 2000, 39:57-106.
Genes for dark skin arose in human evolution whenever high levels of UVB
radiation were present, to protect the circulating folate. This is the
main reason why people with darker skin have lower rates of NTDs. Skin
color is not a useful indicator of "race" however, as biological races do
not exist.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared |
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