❓ why
Why do some people have red hair?
Human bodyGenetics
Quick Answer
Red hair is usually caused by variants in the MC1R gene, which alter pigment production. It leads to more reddish pheomelanin and less dark eumelanin.
The Full Story
Hair color depends on the balance of two pigments: eumelanin, which is brown-black, and pheomelanin, which is red-yellow. Variants in the MC1R gene can shift pigment production toward pheomelanin, producing red hair and often lighter skin and freckles. The trait is most common in people with ancestry from northern and western Europe, but it appears in many populations. Because MC1R is inherited in a complex way, red hair can appear unexpectedly in families.
Key Facts
1.MC1R is a key gene linked to red hair
2.Red hair involves more pheomelanin than eumelanin
3.The trait is relatively common in northern and western Europe
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Red hair is a pigment switch turned by a famous gene."