Wednesday, January 8, 2014

How many ethnics groups carry the gene for red hair?

red hair trait
 on genetics notes bi
red hair trait image



Ariel 128


I think it started in one main group, but now it has spread to several more ethnic groups. I think that it is a recessive trait and that to have the red headed individual born, both parents would have to contribute the gene for red hair.


Answer
The Celts probably have the greatest frequency of the gene, but it is also present in North Germanic populations to a lesser extent, as well as in the East Slavic populations (Russia was known at one point as the land of the red haired people. Ive also heard that the Thracians (Balkans) had red hair but if you look at Balkan nations today, red hair is very very very rare.

"Several accounts by Greek writers detail redheaded people. A fragment by the Greek poet Xenophanes describes the Thracians as blue-eyed and red haired. The Greek historian Herodotus described the "Budini", probably Udmurts and Permyak Finns located on the Volga in what is modern-day Russia, as being predominantly redheaded. The Greek historian Dio Cassius described Boudica, the famous Celtic Queen of the Iceni, to: "be tall and terrifying in appearance ... a great mass of red hair ... over her shoulders".

The Roman Tacitus commented on the "red hair and large limbs of the inhabitants of Caledonia (Scotland)", which he linked with some red haired Gaulish tribes of Germanic and Belgic relation.

Red hair has also been found in Asia, notably among the Tocharians who occupied the northwesternmost province of what is modern-day China. The 2nd millennium BC caucasian Tarim mummies in China were found with red and blonde hair and most likely were of European origin."

What happens when you mix two recessive traits?




Jamie


Like how blond hair and red hair are both recessive traits. What happens when you mix them?


Answer
Kaiba is right: "recessive" is a relative term. Its just a word thats used to describe a relationship between two traits (ie. Blond hair is recessive to black hair). So, when you are dealing with blond hair versus red hair, one trait will be dominant over the other trait.

A useful analogy: Both a cat and a mouse are weaker than an elephant. But when its cat versus mouse, one of the animals will be stronger then the other. Therefore, even though BOTH animals are weaker then the elephant, the cat is stronger then the mouse.

You asked a great question :)




Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Title Post: How many ethnics groups carry the gene for red hair?
Rating: 92% based on 976 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Yukie

Thanks For Coming To My Blog

No comments:

Post a Comment