Humans need sunlight to help keep their bones, blood and other body systems healthy, but too much time in the Sun can sometimes leave people with a sunburn.
A big part of the answer to your question also has to do with human cells. My friend Cynthia Cooper, associate professor of molecular genetics in the College of Arts and Sciences at WSU Vancouver, knows a lot about cells and how they work.
“The melanin almost acts like a little flying-saucer that hovers over the nucleus,” Cooper said. “It reflects the ultraviolet rays to protect the DNA from damage.”
In the lab at WSU, Cooper and her team are investigating the innerworkings of cells to learn more about new treatments for people with cell diseases like albinism as well as treatments for the most serious types of skin cancer. When we understand more about how cells work, we can continue help improve human health for everyone.