Melanin
A pigment that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes. Melanin absorbs UV radiation, protecting cells from DNA damage caused by sunlight.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"...als**: Male guppies display a combination of orange spots (carotenoid-based coloration indicating diet quality and parasite resistance), black spots (melanin-based coloration), and iridescent blue-green spots (structural coloration from light interference). Females assess all three components simultaneousl..."
"Male house sparrows have black throat bibs ("badges of status") that predict dominance. Bib size is cheap to produce (melanin pigmentation), yet the signal remains honest. Why? Because males who display oversized bibs relative to their actual fighting ability are attacked by..."
Biological Context
Melanin production increases with sun exposure (tanning). Populations near the equator evolved more melanin for UV protection; populations at high latitudes evolved less to allow vitamin D synthesis.
Business Application
Business melanin: protective adaptations that develop in response to environmental exposure. Organizations in harsh competitive environments develop thicker defenses.