THE BIOLOGY OF SKIN COLOR AND THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS AND REFLECTIONS FOR AN ANTIRACIST EDUCATION bases científicas e reflexões para uma educação antirracista

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Published: Jun 22, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46667/renbio.v19i1.2103
Keywords:
Skin pigmentation, Human diversity, Antiracist education, Biology teaching, Eugenics

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Luany Lazara Melo de Oliveira
Secretaria de Estado da Educação de Goiás (Seduc)
José Eduardo Baroneza
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino de Biologia – Profbio, Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Brasília, DF
Hilton Pereira da Silva
Centro de Estudos Avançados Multidisciplinares (CEAM/UnB) - Universidade de Brasília
Silviene Fabiana de Oliveira
Departamento de Genética e Morfologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade de Brasilia

Abstract

In Brazilian basic education, the teaching of the biology of human skin pigmentation is still based on simplified and outdated conceptions, which are insufficient to explain the diversity of skin tones. This review, aimed at Biology teachers, seeks to provide an updated synthesis of the main factors involved in skin color determination, such as biochemical processes, melanosome pH, ultraviolet radiation, diet, and genetics. In addition to discussing these biological aspects, the text connects scientific foundations with social dimensions, in order to promote a critical and contextualized understanding of the subject. The proposal is to contribute to pedagogical practices that overcome reductionist views, supporting the development of genetics and biology teaching committed to valuing human diversity and promoting antiracist education.

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How to Cite
Oliveira, L. L. M. de, Baroneza, J. E., da Silva, H. P., & Fabiana de Oliveira, S. (2026). THE BIOLOGY OF SKIN COLOR AND THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS AND REFLECTIONS FOR AN ANTIRACIST EDUCATION: bases científicas e reflexões para uma educação antirracista. SBEnBio Biology Teaching Journal, 19(1), 341–363. https://doi.org/10.46667/renbio.v19i1.2103
Issue
2026: V.19, n.1 (Jan./Jun.2026)
Section
Ensaios
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Author Biographies

Luany Lazara Melo de Oliveira, Secretaria de Estado da Educação de Goiás (Seduc)

I hold a professional master’s degree in Biology Teaching, offered by the University of Brasília, completed in March 2023. In addition, I hold postgraduate degrees in Special Education and Youth and Adult Education from Faculdade Venda Nova do Imigrante (June/2022), and a licentiate degree in Biological Sciences from Faculdade Anhanguera de Brasília (2016). My academic path includes several professional training courses in education, as well as publications: one published article, another under review for submission, and presentations of extended abstracts at academic events. I have experience as a preceptor in the Pedagogical Residency Program (CAPES) and five years of teaching in Natural and Biological Sciences. I am currently seeking opportunities for an academic PhD in Biology.

José Eduardo Baroneza, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino de Biologia – Profbio, Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Brasília, DF

Biomedical scientist (State University of Londrina – UEL), specialist in Modern Education (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul – PUC-RS), with a Master’s and PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology (University of São Paulo – USP / Federal University of Paraná – UFPR). Professor in the Morphology area at the School of Medicine, University of Brasília (FM/UnB). Regional Director for the Central-West of the Brazilian Association of Medical Education (ABEM-CO 2024–2026). Deputy Coordinator of the Professional Master’s Program in Biology Teaching in the National Network (PROFBIO/UnB 2025–2026). Advisor to the Intersectoral Commission on Science, Technology, and Pharmaceutical Assistance of the National Health Council (CNS 2025–2028). Coordinated the Human Anatomy Museum at UnB (MAH-UnB) from 2018 to 2020. Chaired the Core Faculty Committee of the Medical School from 2021 to 2023 and served as Undergraduate Coordinator of the School of Medicine in 2024, the year in which the program received the maximum score of 5 from INEP/MEC. Supervises research in the areas of medical education and biology teaching. Author of textbooks, book chapters, and scientific articles in the fields of Medical Education, Science Teaching, and Developmental Biology. Reviewer for the Revista Brasileira de Educação, Revista Praxis Educacionais, Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica, and Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Biologia.

Hilton Pereira da Silva, Centro de Estudos Avançados Multidisciplinares (CEAM/UnB) - Universidade de Brasília

He holds a degree in Medicine from the Federal University of Pará (1991), a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Pará (1990), a Master’s in Anthropology from The Pennsylvania State University, USA (1993), a Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University, USA (1998), a PhD in Anthropology/Bioanthropology from The Ohio State University, USA (2001), and advanced training in Internal Medicine from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2005). Founder and Coordinator of the Laboratory of Bioanthropological Studies in Health and Environment (LEBIOS/CNPq), he is a permanent faculty member of the Graduate Program in Anthropology (PPGA) and of the Graduate Program in Public Health in the Amazon (PPGSCA) at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). He was Associate Coordinator and faculty of the Specialization Course in Amazonian Studies (CEEAz) at the University of Brasília (UnB) (2022–2023), professor (1999–2009), Head of the Department of Anthropology (2004–2006), and Coordinator of the Biological Anthropology Section (1999–2007) at the National Museum, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MN-UFRJ). Visiting Professor/Researcher at the State University of New York at Binghamton (2002), University of Coimbra (2004 and 2010), Federal University of Pará (2007–2009), and Michigan State University (2012). Holder of Chair 58 of the Historical and Geographical Institute of Pará (IHGP), he is a member of the Coordination of the Thematic Group on Racism and Health of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (ABRASCO) and of the Scientific Area on the Health of the Black Population of the Brazilian Association of Black Researchers (ABPN). He is also a member of the Interinstitutional Working Group of ADPF 742 (GTI-ADPF 742) instituted by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), a Collaborating Member of the Center for Research in Anthropology and Health at the University of Coimbra (CIAS-UC), a member of the Research Group on Bioanthropology (GEB/CNPq) at the State University of Pará, and of the Research Group on Politics, Inequality and Race in Brazil (PDRB/CNPq). He serves on the Board of Directors of the Human Biology Association (HBA) (2021–2025), and is a member of the Latin American Association of Biological Anthropology (ALAB) and of the Brazilian Association of Anthropology (ABA). He was a volunteer advisor for the State Coordination of the Associations of Remaining Quilombo Communities of Pará (MALUNGU) (2021–2022). He has taught in the undergraduate programs of Medicine and Nutrition at UFPA, and as a guest lecturer in the Law program at UNIFESSPA. Since 2021, he has been affiliated with the Center for Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies (CEAM) at the University of Brasília (UnB). His expertise lies in bioanthropology, public health, and medicine, with a focus on the following areas: Amazon, Africa, public health, human evolution and adaptability, human ecology, biological anthropology and environment, anthropology of health, quilombola communities, conservation units, social determinants of health, chronic diseases, public health policies, health of rural populations, health of the Black population, visual anthropology, and forensic anthropology.

Silviene Fabiana de Oliveira, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade de Brasilia

She holds a degree in Biological Sciences – Teaching from the University of São Paulo (1987), a master’s degree in Biological Sciences (Genetics) from the University of São Paulo (1992), and a PhD in Biological Sciences (Genetics) from the University of São Paulo (1999). She completed postdoctoral training in Genomic Medicine at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine (USA) and in Forensic Genetics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Brasília. She has experience in Human Genetics, with an emphasis on Forensic Genetics, Biological Anthropology, and molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases, working mainly on the following topics: gene searches and associations between alleles/genotypes and proposals for new diagnostic methodologies (especially dysmorphologies, intellectual disability, and syndromic deafness); population genetics and its interfaces with the historical reconstruction of human settlements (quilombo descendants, Afro-Brazilian populations, Amazonian Indigenous populations, and Brazilian urban populations), databases, estimation of postmortem interval, and forensic phenotyping. She has also developed work in the field of genetics education. She is a CNPq researcher.

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