The present invention relates to all facets of novel polynucleotides for melanocortin-1 receptors, the polypeptides they encode, antibodies and specific binding partners thereto, and their applications to research, diagnosis, drug discovery, therapy, clinical medicine, forensic science and medicine, etc. The polynucleotides are useful in variety of ways, including, but not limited to, as molecular markers, as drug targets, and for detecting, diagnosing, staging, monitoring, prognosticating, preventing or treating, determining predisposition to, etc., diseases and conditions especially relating to melanocortin-1, such as melanoma, pigmentation disorders and conditions, inflammation, etc.