100 WVIA Way
Pittston, PA 18640

Phone: 570-826-6144
Fax: 570-655-1180

Copyright © 2025 WVIA, all rights reserved. WVIA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Why Am I Like This?

Where Does My Skin Color Come From?

Season 1 Episode 2 | 9m 20s

Have you ever been convinced that you’re adopted because your parents have a radically different skin color? How DO we inherit skin color in the first place? In this episode, Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through how we genetically inherit traits, how skin color is distributed across the globe, and how the inheritance of skin color is not as straightforward as we might think.

Aired: 08/17/22
Funding for WHY AM I LIKE THIS is provided by the National Science Foundation.
Extras
Watch • 7:48
Why Am I Like This?
Why Does My Voice Sound Like This?
We explore how the structure of our vocal tract produces sound and why humans speak.
Episode: S1 E8 | 7:48
Watch • 12:13
Why Am I Like This?
Can We Change Our Body Type?
We walk through the types of muscles and hormones that transform the body.
Episode: S1 E7 | 12:13
Watch • 8:03
Why Am I Like This?
Can Humans Change Their Sleep Cycle?
Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through the peaks and valleys of our circadian rhythm.
Episode: S1 E6 | 8:03
Watch • 10:55
Why Am I Like This?
Why Do We Get Allergies? (And Are They Really Necessary?)
Let's walk through how our immune system evolved and what affects our allergies.
Episode: S1 E5 | 10:55
Watch • 9:31
Why Am I Like This?
Where Does Our Stress Come From?
We explore the evolutionary function of stress.
Episode: S1 E4 | 9:31
Watch • 9:46
Why Am I Like This?
Why Do We Have Different Hair Types?
We walk through why hair varies so much across all humans.
Episode: S1 E3 | 9:46
Watch • 10:38
Why Am I Like This?
How Did We Evolve a Sense of Smell?
In this episode, we walk through how our brain develop and process smell.
Episode: S1 E1 | 10:38
Latest Episodes
Watch • 7:48
Why Am I Like This?
Why Does My Voice Sound Like This?
We explore how the structure of our vocal tract produces sound and why humans speak.
Episode: S1 E8 | 7:48
Watch • 12:13
Why Am I Like This?
Can We Change Our Body Type?
We walk through the types of muscles and hormones that transform the body.
Episode: S1 E7 | 12:13
Watch • 8:03
Why Am I Like This?
Can Humans Change Their Sleep Cycle?
Dr. Tina Lasisi walks us through the peaks and valleys of our circadian rhythm.
Episode: S1 E6 | 8:03
Watch • 10:55
Why Am I Like This?
Why Do We Get Allergies? (And Are They Really Necessary?)
Let's walk through how our immune system evolved and what affects our allergies.
Episode: S1 E5 | 10:55
Watch • 9:31
Why Am I Like This?
Where Does Our Stress Come From?
We explore the evolutionary function of stress.
Episode: S1 E4 | 9:31
Watch • 9:46
Why Am I Like This?
Why Do We Have Different Hair Types?
We walk through why hair varies so much across all humans.
Episode: S1 E3 | 9:46
Watch • 10:38
Why Am I Like This?
How Did We Evolve a Sense of Smell?
In this episode, we walk through how our brain develop and process smell.
Episode: S1 E1 | 10:38