Questions: Which of the following are factors in determining whether individuals have darker or lighter skin? In darker skin, the melanocytes produce more melanin. In darker skin, the melanin breaks down more slowly. Darker skin contains more melanocytes. In darker skin, the melanin granules are more tightly clumped.

The answer is the first two:

1. In darker skin, the melanocytes produce more melanin.
2. In darker skin, the melanin breaks down more slowly.

Explanation for each option:

1. In darker skin, the melanocytes produce more melanin.

   • Correct. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. Individuals with darker skin have melanocytes that produce more melanin, leading to a darker complexion.

2. In darker skin, the melanin breaks down more slowly.

   • Correct. The rate at which melanin is broken down can affect skin color. In darker skin, melanin tends to break down more slowly, which contributes to the persistence of the darker pigmentation.

3. Darker skin contains more melanocytes.

   • Incorrect. The number of melanocytes is generally similar across different skin tones. The difference lies in the activity of these melanocytes and the amount of melanin they produce.

4. In darker skin, the melanin granules are more tightly clumped.

   • Incorrect. In darker skin, melanin granules are more evenly distributed within the cells, rather than being more tightly clumped.

Summary: The factors in determining whether individuals have darker or lighter skin include the amount of melanin produced by melanocytes and the rate at which melanin breaks down.