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Pyrimidine dimer formation in melanotic mouse melanoma cells, Cloudman S91H‐. and iii mouse mammary carcinoma cells, EMT6, was compared as a function of wavelength by irradiating equal numbers of cells from the two cell lines simultaneously. More dimers were formed in EMT6 than in S91H– by light of wavelengths less than 289 nm, while light of higher wavelengths caused equivalent dimer formation, as measured by the Micrococcus luteus UV‐endonuclease assay. The cells of S91 flare lightly melanotic, yet shielding at lower wavelengths is considerable. It is speculated that melanin pigmentation arose by selection during an evolutionary period when UV‐C light reaching the earth's surface was significantly greater than it is today.
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Hill et al. (1982) studied this question.
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