Peter Frost (anthropologist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Frost is a Canadian
anthropologist.
He was awarded his Ph.D. from Université Laval
in 1995.
He is best known for hypotheses on the evolution of hair, eye and skin colors. Peter Frost has suggested that sexual dimorphism of complexion in humans relates to a preference in many traditional cultures for fairer-skinned women.
Peter Frost takes issue with the commonly accepted theory that the evolution of light eye and hair coloration is a side effect of natural selection for skin color in order to maximize vitamin D
synthesis in high latitudes. He contends that light skin preference acting with a gender imbalance during the Late Glacial Maximum resulted in white skin evolving by sexual selection
. Accordingly he has argued that skin color is not a cause of low vitamin D levels and that vitamin D supplements for dark skinned people living at high latitude could damage health in the long term.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
anthropologist.
He was awarded his Ph.D. from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in 1995.
He is best known for hypotheses on the evolution of hair, eye and skin colors. Peter Frost has suggested that sexual dimorphism of complexion in humans relates to a preference in many traditional cultures for fairer-skinned women.
Peter Frost takes issue with the commonly accepted theory that the evolution of light eye and hair coloration is a side effect of natural selection for skin color in order to maximize vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
synthesis in high latitudes. He contends that light skin preference acting with a gender imbalance during the Late Glacial Maximum resulted in white skin evolving by sexual selection
Sexual selection
Sexual selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, is a significant element of his theory of natural selection...
. Accordingly he has argued that skin color is not a cause of low vitamin D levels and that vitamin D supplements for dark skinned people living at high latitude could damage health in the long term.