World is going ginger as human are evolving into redheads for one reason say scientists
Category: Health, Science & Technology
Via: john-russell • 7 months ago • 6 commentsBy: Jerry Lawton (Daily Star)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Redheads have thicker hair and more sex and DNA analysis says humans are evolving quickly and the hair colour has traditionally been associated with strength
The world is going ginger as humans are still evolving - into redheads, according to boffins.
A new study found the number of folk with flame-coloured hair is growing. Until now many scientists believed humans had made little evolutionary progress over the past 10,000 years.
But new DNA analysis of 15,836 ancient human remains by researchers at Harvard University, US, has suggested folk are not only evolving at pace but turning into ginger nuts.
The study, published in scientific journal Nature, said: "Perhaps having red hair was beneficial 4,000 years ago, or perhaps it came along for the ride with a more important trait."
Though teased redheads may not think it, the hair colour has traditionally been associated with strength.
In Hawaii Polynesians with red hair are thought to be descendants of fire gods. A study found redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. A strand of red hair is generally thicker than other shades.
Red heads will inherit the Earth say boffins(Image: Getty Images)
But redheads have less hair averaging around 90,000 strands compared to a blonde's 110,000 and brunette's 140,000. They produce more Vitamin D in a shorter amount of time than people with other hair colour.
While a 2022 study found redheaded women are more sexually active, have greater desire and a larger number of partners than others. They have sex at least one more time per week than the rest of the population.
Gingers are also more popular in advertising. Analysis has shown 30% of TV commercials running during prime time feature a redhead.
Ed Sheeran described his ginger hair as a 'superpower' that had helped his music career. Elizabeth I, a natural redhead, wore red wigs to cover her grey hair in later life. Prince Harry has embraced his red hair joking the 'ginger gene is a strong one'.
Guardians Of The Galaxy actress Karen Gillan is proud of her natural red hair and has said she wants to have 'ginger children'.
The new study involved more than 250 archaeologists and anthropologists building a database of DNA gathered from 10,016 ancient burial sites across Europe and Asia.
Ed Sheeran says his red hair is his 'superpower'
That information was combined with the genomic sequences of a further 5,820 ancient people and 6,438 modern humans, including data from the UK Biobank.
Analysing millions of genetic variants scientists were able to track how often specific variants appeared over time.
Researchers identified 479 genes whose rate of increase or decrease was 'greater than can be expected by chance' - suggesting that natural selection was at play.
The study looks at the time frame following the last major Ice Age when human beings moved from hunter-gatherers to farmers forming the first human civilisations.
The researchers said natural selection may have sped up at this stage 'because of rapidly changing lifestyles and economies'.
Other traits that evolution has selected include having narrow hips and less body fat.
Genetic variants linked to having a fast walking pace and resistance to leprosy have also increased.
While those responsible for male pattern baldness and rheumatoid arthritis are declining, the study found.
Susceptibility to coeliac disease - which occurs when the immune system attacks the small intestine due to a gluten-heavy diet - has increased.
Ali Akbari, lead author of the paper, said: "Instead of searching for the scars natural selection leaves in present-day genomes we can now watch how selection shaped biology in real time."
Until now only 21 instances of modern human evolution were widely recognised.
These included a mutation that enabled humans who farmed cattle to continue to digest milk in adulthood while other societies, notably in East Asia, have high rates of lactose intolerance.
The authors now plan to repeat the research in East Asia, East Africa and Central and South America to uncover more genetic variations they hope could help with disease prevention and pave the way for developing new gene therapy medications.
According to Harvard: "The work demonstrates the power of ancient-DNA research to illuminate human genetic adaptation and other fundamental principles of evolutionary biology."
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I didnt know what a boffin was so I looked it up
I know I'm going to rule the world one day.... Just ask me! 🤣
Arvo..Rangas and Blueys abound in our family history..
I knew they were Australian, but I never thought you'd be related!
I think my grand daughter might have red hair. It was dark when she was born but it's starting to lighten and it looks red