Hemoglobin vs. Melanin: Understanding the Pigments in Your Blood and Skin

The components of hemoglobin are pigments, not melanin. Hemoglobin is a protein molecule that contains four polypeptide chains, each of which is folded into a globin domain and contains a heme group. The heme group is an iron-containing porphyrin ring. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood.

Melanin is a pigment that is produced by cells in the skin, hair, and eyes. It is responsible for giving these tissues their color. Melanin is produced by the oxidation of tyrosine, an amino acid.