• Question: why cant we have see through skin so that we know what is wrong with the body?

    Asked by sayna01 to Ben, James, Jen, Michael, Susanna on 20 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Susanna Martin

      Susanna Martin answered on 20 Mar 2013:

      I don’t know but I suspect it’s to do with evolution, lots of creatures are attracted to blood and things which are red, if we could see through our skin then our blood and muscles would be on show and perhaps we might be attacked more! Also the skin pigment is to do with protecting our skin from things like sunshine so i’m not sure what would happen if our skin was see through.

    • Photo: Jen Todd Jones

      Jen Todd Jones answered on 20 Mar 2013:

      Hi sayna

      Like Susie says our skin is actually a very important protective layer to keep out harmful UV rays from the sun, otherwise our organs would get fried! 😮 It was also important in our evolutionary history since our skin has hairs all over it, previously as monkeys we could puff up our hair or fur to look bigger when we were faced with an enemy which helped us survive. We don’t need to (and can’t) do this anymore, but it was something our ancestors were clearly good at doing since we’re here now!

      Jen

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