Where does the trait for red hair originate?

Question:I am a redhead, my son is a redhead, and my son's older sister (different mother) is a redhead... I would love to have more information on the history of the "ginger" gene. I also heard that we are becoming extinct... any input?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am a redhead, my son is a redhead, and my son's older sister (different mother) is a redhead... I would love to have more information on the history of the "ginger" gene. I also heard that we are becoming extinct... any input?

I read this about reds:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,222...

August 23, 2007 02:00am

REDHEADS are becoming rarer and could be extinct in 100 years, according to genetic scientists.

The current National Geographic magazine reports that less than two per cent of the world's population has natural red hair, created by a mutation in northern Europe thousands of years ago.

Global intermingling, which broadens the availability of possible partners, has reduced the chances of redheads meeting and producing little redheads of their own.

It takes only one red-haired parent to produce ginger-headed babies, but two redheads obviously create a much stronger possibility.

If the gingers really want to save themselves they should move to Scotland.

An estimated 40 per cent of Scots carry the red gene and 13 per cent actually have red hair.

Some experts say that redheads could be gone as early as 2060.

______________________________________...

Also, read this about blondes:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/228478...

Friday, 27 September, 2002, 11:51 GMT 12:51 UK

Blondes 'to die out in 200 years'

The last natural blondes will die out within 200 years, scientists believe.

A study by experts in Germany suggests people with blonde hair are an endangered species and will become extinct by 2202.

Researchers predict the last truly natural blonde will be born in Finland - the country with the highest proportion of blondes.

But they say too few people now carry the gene for blondes to last beyond the next two centuries.

The problem is that blonde hair is caused by a recessive gene.

In order for a child to have blonde hair, it must have the gene on both sides of the family in the grandparents' generation.

The researchers also believe that so-called bottle blondes may be to blame for the demise of their natural rivals.

They suggest that dyed-blondes are more attractive to men who choose them as partners over true blondes.

Harding et al (2000) proposed that red hair was not the result of positive selection but rather occurs due to a lack of negative selection. In Africa, for example, red hair is selected against because high levels of sun would be harmful towards fair skin. However, in Northern Europe this does not happen and so redheads come about through genetic drift.

Estimates on the original occurrence of the currently active gene for red hair vary from 20,000 to 100,000 years ago

Both my children are redheads. I am dark haired and dark eyed, but my husband is a redhead. I think that the gene for red hair has to be on both the mother and father's family. surprisingly, when both parents have the ginger gene, the red head gene becomes dominant. I just knew ONE of my children would resemble me, but no luck!

I heard (I don't know how true it is) that the "Ginger" gene belonged to small tribes (Which, for many years were very isolated) which lived on the British Isle's.

Look at images of Bodecia for example. Apparently she had flaming red hair

Her people, and tribes similar to hers belonged to some of the first to inhabit the British Islands.

I have read that it comes from Norse cultures (Vikings) and that is why so many Scots and Irish have red hair (Scotland and Ireland were extensively populated by Vikings).