  An international group of scientists claim that understanding
the differences in skin color genes between Asians and Europeans
could lead to a better way to protect people from skin cancer.
Previously, researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine
were able to identify a unique gene in Europeans that
contributes to lighter skin color.  They found that Europeans
possess mutations in the genes SLC24A5 and SLC45A2 that are
largely responsible for their pigmentation, showing only single
amino acid differences between Europeans and West Africans.
Researchers said that while East Asians are also light skinned,
these European alleles were not present in people from countries
like China, Japan and Korea, suggesting that, while both groups
of people evolved lighter skin color for better production of
vitamin D in northern climates where there is less sunlight,
they did so in a different way.  Researchers believe that the
difference in evolution also affects skin cancer rates.  While
Europeans are 10 to 20 ti