Why do Some People Have Red Hair?

Not only found on the skin and eyes, color variation is also found in hair. One of the are unique hair color is red. The scientists are now researching the existence of the gene responsible for the emergence of red hair.

About one in ten people in Ireland has red hair, outside UK and Ireland the rate drops to just over 0.5 per cent, or one in 200. (Picture from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

By using a simple saliva test, scientists from BritainsDNA seeking DNA of people who have one of the three common variants in MC1R gene, which is responsible for red hair color. The test, which was designed to trace people's ancestry, will be available to the public at the Who Do You Think You Are? Live exhibition at London Olympia next month.

Four out of ten of the UK population is estimated to have a gene mutation that can cause the appearance of red hair on their children. This can happen even if the parents do not have red hair inherited genes. "The gene is recessive red hair," said Jim Wilson, chief scientist at BritainsDNA, Monday, January 28, 2013. Only one in four children born with red hair, and one of two the child will be a carrier of the gene (carrier).

He said that if only one of the parents who brought red hair gene, their children will not have red hair. However, half of the children will carry the red hair gene variant and pass it to their offspring.

"This means the family can carry the red hair gene variants for the next generation," he said. Descendants redhead will appear when one gene carrier marries a carrier of the same gene. Not just in the UK, around one in ten people in Ireland also have red hair even though 40 percent are of the nature. While the UK has 6 percent of the population have red hair, while Scotland has 13 per cent of the population has red hair.

Finding the silent “red hair gene” is not only beneficial to finding out if your offspring will have red hair but it is also means that those carrying the gene are exposed to a range of increased health risks such as increased sensitivity to pain, skin cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Tourettes. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TELEGRAPH | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4128]

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