text: melanin and second question? does melanin consist of copper and carbon, and what determines the amount of melanin that a person has based on this combination?  also does dis-ease occur due to the human body having too much acid inside and mucus?  if this is so, how come doctors cant find the cure for aids, cancer, and other diseases which were deemed incurible by the medical association? melanin is synthesized in the body from the dietary protein tyrosine.  melanin does not contain copper but it does contain several carbon atoms (it is an organic molecule).  note: copper is needed as a co-factor for the enzyme involved in melanin synthesis (the enzyme is tyrosine hydroxylase, also called tyrosinase).  hope this is helpful.  best wishes.