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This may be incorrect but I've read before that red hair genes originated from the United Kingdom. My ancestry is quite far away from that part of the world.
"Contrary to what many people assume, redheads did not originate in Scandinavia, Scotland or Ireland, but in central Asia. Their coloring is due to a mutation in the MC1R gene that fails to produce sun-protective, skin-darkening eumelanin and instead causes pale skin, freckles and red hair. As our distant ancestors migrated to settle the cool, gray climes of Northern Europe, redheads had a signal advantage over their darker peers: Their pale skin produced vitamin D more efficiently from the wan sunlight, strengthening their bones and making women more likely to survive pregnancy and childbirth. But the gene is recessive and thrives mainly in remote regions and closed communities such as Ireland, Scotland and coastal regions of Scandinavia."
"Contrary to what many people assume, redheads did not originate in Scandinavia, Scotland or Ireland, but in central Asia. Their coloring is due to a mutation in the MC1R gene that fails to produce sun-protective, skin-darkening eumelanin and instead causes pale skin, freckles and red hair. As our distant ancestors migrated to settle the cool, gray climes of Northern Europe, redheads had a signal advantage over their darker peers: Their pale skin produced vitamin D more efficiently from the wan sunlight, strengthening their bones and making women more likely to survive pregnancy and childbirth. But the gene is recessive and thrives mainly in remote regions and closed communities such as Ireland, Scotland and coastal regions of Scandinavia."
Ah I see. Any chance that some of the genes were left behind in central Asia? 'Cause that would be closer to my original ancestral lands(Mesopotamia).
"Contrary to what many people assume, redheads did not originate in Scandinavia, Scotland or Ireland, but in central Asia. Their coloring is due to a mutation in the MC1R gene that fails to produce sun-protective, skin-darkening eumelanin and instead causes pale skin, freckles and red hair. As our distant ancestors migrated to settle the cool, gray climes of Northern Europe, redheads had a signal advantage over their darker peers: Their pale skin produced vitamin D more efficiently from the wan sunlight, strengthening their bones and making women more likely to survive pregnancy and childbirth. But the gene is recessive and thrives mainly in remote regions and closed communities such as Ireland, Scotland and coastal regions of Scandinavia."
There are red-headed skeletons in Asia.. this doesn't mean that Orientals had red hair, but
it means that the Redheads lived in Asia.. they also lived in the Holy Land, and migrated over
the Caucasus Mountains.
Anyway, I had some orange (red) hair on my brown beard only.. along with some blonde
whiskers - funny thing is, the orange hairs went gray, while everything else on the beard has not.
Are they the first to "go" ? Some of my Italian family had the red hair.
I have the red head gene, I had very red hair as a child, still throws red like Kathryns, but is very dark brown almost black.
My ex is very brown skinned haired and also brown eyed, so are all his brothers.
One of the brothers married a redhead and they had a red head daughter. So, my ex must have ginger somewhere in their family tree for this to have happened.
My own daughter is a strawberry blonde, which supports this.
She clearly carries the red head gene as every time she colours her hair it ends up red.
Where the blonde part came from though, is an utter mystery. It doesn't exist on either side!
I just happened to see this topic on the sidebar so I thought I would chime in...
Both my parents were redheads, the only ones among their 10 siblings. They had us four children, all redheads. We had different shades ranging from pumpkin orange to strawberry. My sister had 3 redheaded boys, my other sister 2 redheaded boys and my brother 1 redheaded girl! The Ginger is quite strong with us lol
Simple. Two recessive genes. Scandinavians are more likely to have red hair than Celts. Vikings brought red hair to the British Isles and East Central Europe.
As with any recessive gene, neither parent or grandparent has to express red hair. But both parents must have the gene.
ETA - most red haired people have brown, hazel or green eyes. Not blue.
Interesting, so do you reckon that there can be cases where the 'redness' from the ginger gene can show up in tiny amounts on a carrier too?
.
I do. I've seen men with red facial hair but brown head hair. I have freckles and hazel eyes, but brown hair with a few red hairs in it. My grandfather had bright red hair as a small child in Scotland, so I know there's some ginger DNA floating around in the family, and probably in me. Those recessive genes can still peek out in subtle ways.
Simple. Two recessive genes. Scandinavians are more likely to have red hair than Celts. Vikings brought red hair to the British Isles and East Central Europe.
As with any recessive gene, neither parent or grandparent has to express red hair. But both parents must have the gene.
ETA - most red haired people have brown, hazel or green eyes. Not blue.
Actually, Vikings found red hair in the Brit Isles, and took red-hair breeders back to Scandinavia with them. Though they also had the recessive gene among them, as well. There weren't many red-haireds among the Vikings until they brought back Scottish and Irish women from their raids.
I do. I've seen men with red facial hair but brown head hear. I have freckles and hazel eyes, but brown hair with a few red hairs in it. My grandfather had bright red hair as a small child in Scotland, so I know there's some ginger DNA floating around in the family, and probably in me. Those recessive genes can still peek out in subtle ways.
I believe you're right, and I now do think I have some ginger DNA as I just found out that the relative of mine who has red hair is in my direct bloodline on my mother's side.
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