Patent ID: 7745408

Claim:
A method for inducing melanogenesis in a human subject having a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) variant allele associated with loss of or diminished receptor function, which comprises the steps of: i) identifying the MC1R variant using primer sequences selected from 5′-tggacaggactatggctgtg-3′ (MC1R-1F—SEQ ID NO:1), 5′-tcttcagcacgctcttcat-3′ (MC1R-1R—SEQ ID NO:2), 5′cttctacgcactgcgctacc-3′ (MC1R-2F—SEQ ID NO: 3) and 5′-gctttaagtgtgctgggcag-3′ (MC1R-2R—SEQ ID NO: 4), and ii) administering to said subject an amount of [Nle 4 , DPhe 7 ]-α-melanocyte stimulating hormone ([Nle 4 , DPhe 7 ]-α-MSH) effective to induce melanogenesis by the melanocytes in the skin or other epidermal tissue of the subject.