# Scientists Identify Genetic Cause of "White" Skin **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904 "2005-12-16T13:55:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/1 "2005-12-16T13:55:51Z")
[Hartford Courant article](http://www.courant.com/news/health/hc-gene1216.artdec16,0,604779.story?coll=hc-headlines-health) [Washington Post article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/15/AR2005121501728.html) No word yet on whether this will lead to a cure. 😉 Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/2 "2005-12-16T15:14:33Z")
A very interesting article. It makes me wonder what the racists will think of it. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/3 "2005-12-16T15:34:15Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > A very interesting article. It makes me wonder what the racists will think of it. They’ll first have to get over the fact that all people were brown-skinned at one time, including their ancestors. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/4 "2005-12-16T18:15:17Z")
I hope by the time I want kids they have figured out how to custom-color. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/5 "2005-12-16T18:17:15Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > They’ll first have to get over the fact that all people were brown-skinned at one time, including their ancestors. Which will either cause them to deny this study or to rationalize that somehow their ancestors were a “better color of brown” than current blacks. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/6 "2005-12-16T18:42:43Z")
When I heard on the radio that white skin in humans is the result of a mutation, a mistake, I thought of Homer Simpson (who is yellow, by the way.) One of his Great Sentences says, “It was like that when I got here.” ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/7 "2005-12-16T18:43:27Z")
So does that mean I’ll be able to undergo gene therapy to cure my hopelessly caucasion dancing impairment? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/8 "2005-12-16T19:59:26Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > So does that mean I’ll be able to undergo gene therapy to cure my hopelessly caucasion dancing impairment? Are you saying that the mutation is also related to lack of rhythm and an inability to dunk? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/9 "2005-12-16T20:05:26Z")
> [@photopat](#): > > Which will either cause them to deny this study or to rationalize that somehow their ancestors were a “better color of brown” than current blacks. They’ll probably just argue that it’s evidence that they’re “more evolved.” And will, as usual, discount the overwhelming volume of evidence that would indicate the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/10 "2005-12-16T21:21:53Z")
Attack of the white-skinned milk-drinking mutants! Coming soon to a history book near you! [sub]Um, wait a minute…[/sub] > [@the first link in the OP](#): > > By default, we are all dark-skinned… This expains my attraction to dark-skinned women. I’m merely seeking normalcy. 🙂 [sub]Of course, I’m not attracted _only_ to dark-skinned women. That would be _too_ normal.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/11 "2005-12-16T21:40:19Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I hope by the time I want kids they have figured out how to custom-color. Put me down for one with racing stripes! ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/12 "2005-12-16T21:43:04Z")
Am I the only one who instantly thought of Jacko? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/13 "2005-12-16T21:57:24Z")
> [@lizardling](#): > > Am I the only one who instantly thought of Jacko? 😃 Jacko was an excellent example of cosmetic engineering, not physical mutation. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/14 "2005-12-16T22:02:26Z")
I’m just trying to get a grip on this new reality. Deep in my cells, somewhere, I’m a black man. White women who have been hating on their big butts can now revel in their “burundi.” Now I know it has been natural for me to love the blues. Yeah, well, that was fun, but the truth is we are all children of the same source. That’s why the Lakota people end every prayer with “for all my relations,” meaning all the inhabitants of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/15 "2005-12-16T22:42:43Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > They’ll probably just argue that it’s evidence that they’re “more evolved.” That would require them to agree that evolution occurs and is responsible for the human race. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/16 "2005-12-16T23:04:39Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > A very interesting article. It makes me wonder what the racists will think of it. They’ll say it’s a lie or “only a theory” or something. Or perhaps that their ancestors were still white in some essential way that is irrespective of skin color. And you can just look and them and say “you know, you look darker than you did yesterday…” to freak them out, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/17 "2005-12-17T02:40:36Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > A very interesting article. It makes me wonder what the racists will think of it. Well, the Black Israelites, The Nation Of Islam and similar groups will claim it proves their belief that caucasians are inferior people who were produced through breeding with demons or some evil nation. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/18 "2005-12-17T02:49:57Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Well, the Black Israelites, The Nation Of Islam and similar groups will claim it proves their belief that caucasians are inferior people who were produced through breeding with demons or some evil nation. Man I just love those guys! Biggest fricking idiots I’ve ever seen. I used to go down to times square with my very white looking hispanic friends to taunt them. A good time was had by most 😃 ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/19 "2005-12-17T04:36:26Z")
Interesting isn’t it? The default human is a dark skinned female. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904/20 "2005-12-17T04:54:01Z")
Hah! Good point, **David**. The irony is delicious. Uh. In the good way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientists-identify-genetic-cause-of-white-skin/335904.md?page=2)