Illuminating Evolution: How Light Shapes Human Biology

Light has significantly influenced human evolution, from our upright stance and skin pigmentation to eye size and circadian rhythms. While technology has allowed us to overcome natural light cycles, it hasn't erased light's profound impact, evidenced by high skin cancer rates in sunny regions like Australia.

Adelaide, Oct 21 – For millennia, human evolution has been intrinsically linked to the presence of sunlight. While modern technology has freed us somewhat from natural sleep-wake cycles, light continues to leave a distinct imprint on our biology.

Light has shaped human evolution significantly. It catalyzed our shift to bipedal locomotion, influenced the pigmentation of our skin, and even dictated the size of our eyes. As outlined in upcoming articles, light affects our mood, immune system, and gut functioning, while posing risks like causing or treating illnesses.

The evolutionary journey underscores that humans remain intimately tied to light. From standing upright to migrating out of Africa, our ancestors adapted to sunlight by evolving features like darker skin. However, in regions with weaker light, lighter skin evolved to facilitate vitamin D production, despite less UV protection.

(With inputs from agencies.)