A gene which helps white people achieve a tan may place men at risk of cancer, researchers have revealed.
Nearly 80% of white men carry the gene – and it places them at three times increased risk of testicular cancer, researchers have found.
The variant is found in a set of genes controlled by the p53 tumour suppressor gene.
US researchers found the gene also stimulates tanning when exposed to ultraviolet light.
The findings have been reported in the journal Cell.
Dr Gareth Bond, of Oxford University, UK, said: "White males with a single nucleotide variation in KITLG, called the G allele, have the highest odds of having testicular cancer. In fact, the twofold to threefold increased risk is one of the highest and most significant among all cancer GWAS conducted within the past few years.
"The high frequency of this allele in light skin individuals may explain why testicular cancer is so much more frequent in people of European descent than those of African descent."
A polymorphic p53 response element in the KIT ligand gene influences cancer risk and has undergone natural selection. Cell 10 October 2013; doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.09.017
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