are redheads weird looking?

missy400

some people say yes, some say the exact opposite. i am a redhead, a real one with very red hair, and i was just wondering what other peoples opinions are?

Answer
Red hair is caused by a mutation of the Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene, which is influential in determining skin and hair colour. Across the world population, between 1% to 2% of people have red hair - in some shade from reddish-tinged dark brown to strawberry blond. The incidence is somewhat higher in people with ethnic backgrounds from western Europe - between 2 to 6%. The very highest frequency of red hair is found in Scotland (where all the best things come from :-)

So I wouldn't say that red-heads are "weird-looking". However their hair colour is generally less common.

It was noted that some Neanderthals may have had red hair. However the mutation responsible for red hair in Neanderthals is not the same as in modern humans; so don't believe anyone who says it's a cave-man relic.

Like Richard B, I think red-heads are hot! Must be my Celtic background ...

Hope it helps.

Why do people with red hair often have freckles?

Q.

Answer
"Freckles can be found on anyone no matter their genetic background; however, having freckles is genetic and is related to the presence of the dominant melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R gene variant. The formation of freckles is triggered by exposure to sunlight. The exposure to UV-B radiation activates melanocytes to increase melanin production, which can cause freckles to become darker."

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Need genetic info of humans w/ red hair, brown eyes, and somewhat freckled yet tan-able skin?

Grant

I'm a man with red hair(specifically orange-brown hair), medium brown eyes, with skin that can tan but also lightly freckles.

I have a mostly constant skin tone with about 10% freckling of different shades. Most of the freckles on my skin are evenly distributed and light to medium brown in pigment, but the smaller percentage of the freckles on my skin have a dark brown pigment, are more randomly distributed, and are somewhat bigger in width than the lighter ones making them more noticeable. When I was a kid my skin wouldn't get sun burned like other red haired people but it would have to have more frequent exposure to the sun than other white people who could tan to be as tan as them. I'm not saying I tried to be tan in comparison to other people then I was just outside and exposed to the sun for at least 3 - 4 hours, on average. I only started to think about this a couple years ago. This is just retrospective analysis. Back then, though, I wouldn't get freckles. When I transitioned into a teenager my lifestyle reduced my exposure the sun to almost probably 1 hour a day and I was paler. I'm 25, the past 10 years my skin started to produce freckles much easier. Is this because of years of reduced sunlight somehow making the dynamics of my skin change when hit with adequate amounts of sunlight? I just want data on this genetic make up if anyone can give any?

Answer
The melanocortin-1-receptor gene (MC1-r) on the surface of melanocyte cells is important in converting the red pigment phomelanin to brown pigment melanin. If you are European and have red hair you probably have an allele of MC1-R that does not convert all the phomelanin. The ratio of red to brown pigment determines hair and skin coloration.

The gene SLC24A5 expresses the protein that determines the melanin density of the skin so different alleles of this gene impact skin color. The A variant allele is found in humans with less skin melanin.

The eye color genes EYCL-1, EYCL-2 & EYCL-3 determine melanin's local distribution in the iris and its background skin so influence eye color from this pigment.

Certain alleles of MC1-r are linked to fair skin and freckles.
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MC1R
MC1R "Freckles" gene study
http://forums.skadi.net/showthread.php?t=73501

SLC24A5 research began in zebra fish that carry the A allele
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/060201_zebrafish
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0002E7CA-F27B-13A1-AFAA83414B7FFE9F&sc=I100322
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCY-4KF780Y-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c39582b9f961afc107a5a51137475ac5


SLC24A5, SLC45A2, TYRP1 and DCT genes express proteins that alter the quality of the melanin produced or impact the skin pigmentation levels.
http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/R1/R9.full

How can I enhance my Natural hair colour without dye?

Yippee

I have a sort of light red-ish brown hair colour (it's hard to explain) but I'd like it to be more on the red side. How can I enhance the red in my hair without using permanent dye. I've already tried the "red" shampoos and they don't have enough impact. what else can I use?

Answer
hello there,
in here you can learn more about red hair:

"The pigment pheomelanin gives red hair its distinctive color. Red hair has far more pheomelanin than other hair colors, but far less of the dark pigment eumelanin. Auburn hair has both high levels of pheomelanin and eumelanin.

The genetics of red hair, discovered in 1997, appears to be associated with the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is found on chromosome 16. Red hair is associated with fair skin color due to low concentrations of eumelanin. This lower melanin-concentration has the advantage that a sufficient concentration of important Vitamin D can be produced under low light conditions. However, when the UV-radiation is strong (like in the regions close to the equator) the lower concentration of melanin leads to several medical disadvantages - one of them is the higher rate of skin cancer.

The MC1R recessive variant gene, which gives people red hair and fair skin, is also associated with freckles, though it is not uncommon to see a redhead without freckles. Eighty percent of redheads have an MC1R gene variant,[13] and the prevalence of these alleles is highest in Scotland and Ireland. The alleles that code for red hair occur close to the alleles that impact skin color, so it seems that the phenotypic expression for lighter skin and red hair are interrelated.

Red hair can originate from several different changes on the MC1R-gene. If one of these changes is present on both chromosomes then the respective individual is likely to have red hair. This type of inheritance is described as an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Even if both parents may not have red hair themselves they both can be carriers for the gene and have a redheaded child. (red hair genetics)." in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_hair

and... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2002/10/04/ecfhair04.xml&sSheet=/connected/2002/10/04/ixconn.html

Just keep your hair healthy :)

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What causes red hair?

Answer
The pigment pheomelanin gives red hair its distinctive color.
Red hair is associated with fair skin color because of low concentrations of eumelanin throughout the body of those with red hair.This lower melanin-concentration confers the advantage that a sufficient concentration of important Vitamin D can be produced under low light conditions.
The genetics of red hair, appear to be associated with the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is found on chromosome 16.Red hair can originate from several different changes on the MC1R-gene. If one of these changes is present on both chromosomes then the respective individual is likely to have red hair. This type of inheritance is described as an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Even if both parents do not have red hair themselves, both can be carriers for the gene and have a redheaded child.

Red Hair genetics Question?

gwynn

So I have medium/dark brown hair. I have 2 sisters who are red hair, fair skinned. We have the same parents, my mom was blonde and my dad strawberry blonde. How did I get such dark hair?

Answer
The genetics behind red hair inheritance is a little different than the inheritance of other traits. With red hair a person can inherit the trait even if both parents do not exhibit the trait which is not entirely true in your case because your dad has strawberry blonde hair which is a variation of red headedness. Inheriting red hair is controlled by the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene. Which essentially regulates the amounts of melanin in the body. This is why consequentially people with red hair tend to also have fair skin, freckles and a variety of other pigment related traits characteristic of people of irish, scandinavian or higher latitude populations and their decedents. In people with this gene they tend to have more of the pigment pheomelanin than do people with other hair colors who tend to have more eumelanin instead. Both of your parents are likely to be carriers of the MC1R gene but do not have read hair because the necessary mutations that need to occur on the chromosome haven't occurred. Since your mom is blonde it is most likely that you inherited your dark hair from your dad. A number of genes determine hair color and chances are you are a carrier of the gene for red hair as well.

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Where/how do gingers get their hideous pigmentation from?

red hair melanocortin 1 receptor image

Serious question lah. Is it like somebody growing with a 6th finger and such? Like just a small handicap or is it just more like blue eyes with blond hair?

Answer
The pigment pheomelanin gives red hair its distinctive colour. Red hair has far more of the pigment pheomelanin than it has of the dark pigment eumelanin.

The genetics of red hair, discovered in 1997, appear to be associated with the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is found on chromosome 16. Red hair is associated with fair skin colour due to low concentrations of eumelanin throughout the body of those with red hair. This lower melanin-concentration confers the advantage that a sufficient concentration of important Vitamin D can be produced under low light conditions. However, when UV-radiation is strong (like in regions close to the equator) the lower concentration of melanin leads to several medical disadvantages, such as a higher risk of skin cancer.

The MC1R recessive variant gene that gives people red hair and fair skin is also associated with freckles, though it is not uncommon to see a redhead without freckles.

Even a couple that does not have red hair can have a baby with red hair because they could be carriers of the gene, so watch what you say, your baby could come out a ginger!

What nationality do freckles originate from?

ali

I'm not talking freckles that come from tanning, i'm talking generic freckles.

Answer
Nationalities most likely to have freckles:
Irish
Scottish
Welsh
Swedish
Norwegian

Freckles are small tan spots of melanin on the exposed skin or membrane of people with fair complexions, though rarely people of African descent get them.

Having freckles is genetic and is related to the presence of the melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R gene variant, which is dominant. Freckling can also be triggered by long exposure to sunlight, such as suntanning. When the sun's rays penetrate the skin, they activate melanocytes which can cause freckles to become darker and more numerous, although the distribution of melanin is not the same. Fair hair such as blonde, or more commonly red hair, are usually common with the genetic factor of freckles, but none so much as fair or pale skin.

Freckles are predominantly found on the face, although they may appear on any skin exposed to the sun. Freckles are rare on infants, and more common on children before puberty; they are less common on adults.

Children who do not produce enough melanin to protect their skin against harmful rays from the sun develop temporary freckles associated with childhood that usually go away upon puberty, once more melanin is produced. People with the fairest skin often do not produce enough melanin, and so freckles are present after puberty and into adulthood, indicating that individual as a genetic carrier for freckles.

Upon exposure to the sun, freckles will reappear if they have been altered with creams or lasers and not protected from the sun, but do however fade with age in some cases. Freckles are not a skin disorder. People with a predisposition to freckles may be especially susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer, and should therefore take extra care to protect themselves in the sun with a daily sunblock of at least 15 SPF.

Two Types of Freckles
Ephelides is a genetic trait. Its used to describe a freckle that is flat, light brown or red, and fades in the winter. Ephelides are more common in those with light complexions and with the regular use of sunblock, can be suppressed.

Lentigines (also known as sun spots) are freckles that do not fade in the winter. Rather, they form after years of exposure to the sun. Lentigines are more common in older people.

Complexion refers to the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially that of the face. The word is derived from the Late Latin complexi, which initially referred in general terms to a combination of things, and later in physiological terms, to the balance of humors.

Varying complexionsThe four humours were four fluids that were thought to permeate the body and influence its health. The concept was developed by ancient Greek thinkers around 400 BC. People were thought to be either Choleric, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, or Sanguine.

Complexion was thus thought to be a sign of character. Many surnames arose out of the existence of a complexion whose particularities may have differed from that of the village or townâs population, and thus attracted enough notice to warrant a nickname. The Irish surname Rogan (from Ruadhán) referred to a person with red hair, or a ruddy complexion. The Scottish surname Bain (from bàn) referred to a fair-haired person, while Dunn (from donn) implies brown/dark hair, and Duff (from dubh) implies black hair. The English surname Brown, an extremely common surname in the English-speaking world, was originally applied to anyone with a slightly darker complexion, in the same manner that the surname White was applied to anyone with a particularly light complexion. The surname Gough is derived from the Welsh goch or coch, meaning "red" or "ruddy." King William II of England was called William Rufus ("the Red") because of his ruddy complexion. Ludovico il Moro ("the Moor") was called as such because of his swarthy complexion.

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