melanosomes
/ˈmɛlənoʊˌsoʊmz/
noun
- Tiny structures inside cells that contain melanin, the pigment that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes.
- Melanosomes are responsible for producing and storing the pigment that protects skin from UV rays.
- Scientists study how melanosomes move within cells to understand how skin color changes over time.
- In people with darker skin, melanosomes are larger and more numerous in skin cells.