A recent international study headed by Chinese scientists has revealed that the preference of people from China for white-colored (or pale) complexion may originate from a "defective" genotype.

It has been considered a economic, social or cultural phenomenon that Chinese men appear to be preoccupied with fair skin. This frequently happens when they are looking for a partner. Meanwhile, most Chinese women reportedly prefer a Caucasian or "trophy" husband. Modern Chinese women desire to be Bai-fu-mei, which translates to "white", "rich", "beautiful." Furthermore, Mintel, a market research company conducted a study that showed 95% of women in China aged 20-49 used facial masks to attain whiter face.

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The findings of this study indicates that this desire to find a partner with white-colored complexion may come from a genetic predisposition.

Chinese people have a perception that people with white skin are more superior because nobles that ruled China thousands of years ago had white skin. The coming of Europeans to China also contributed to this perception.

Genetic samples taken from more than 1,000 individuals were studied and analyzed by the researchers from China, US, and Europe. The findings showed that the fairer skin of the Han Chinese compared to skin of people from Southeast Asia and Africa is the result of a mutation of the OCA2 gene.

The function of the OCA2 gene is to aid in the transportation of tyrosine - an amino acid used in producing melanin. Melanin is the pigment that determines skin coloration.

Professor Su Bing of Kunming Institute of Zoology in Yunnan province and Meng Anming of Tsinghua University on Beijing led the research team.

The team estimates that the mutation of the genes leading to fairer skin of Han Chinese happened around 15, 224 years ago after their ancestors' migration up north of the country.

Tagsbeauty, Research, women, white skin, China White Skin Genetic Mutation