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04-17-2018, 04:23 AM
Nature prefers blondes (and dark-haired men) Human genetic comb gets to the roots of hair colour
Research on the DNA of 300,000 people reveals roots of hair colour
https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/http%3A%2F%2Fcom.ft.imagepublish.upp-prod-eu.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa66cda6-417c-11e8-97ce-ea0c2bf34a0b?source=next&fit=scale-down&width=700
Clive Cookson, Science Editor YESTERDAY
An international scientific team has combed the DNA of 300,000 people to understand the genetic roots of hair colour, and found that, when it comes to European ancestry, nature prefers blonde women and brunette men.
”We found that women have significantly fairer hair, which reflects how important cultural practices and sexual preferences are in shaping our genes and biology,” said Tim Spector of King’s College London, joint leader of the project.
The research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, found 111 new genes that influence hair pigmentation on top of 13 that were already known. The study could have medical applications since some genes linked to hair colour are also associated with greater or reduced risk of certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. It will also help forensic scientists to reconstruct the appearance of unknown people from DNA left at crime scenes.
While genes for pale hair — and red hair — are more active in women, those for dark hair are much more active in men. ”Men are three times more likely to have black hair than women,” said Prof Spector...
Read the whole article: https://www.ft.com/content/0e425dfa-3f42-11e8-b7e0-52972418fec4
Research on the DNA of 300,000 people reveals roots of hair colour
https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/http%3A%2F%2Fcom.ft.imagepublish.upp-prod-eu.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa66cda6-417c-11e8-97ce-ea0c2bf34a0b?source=next&fit=scale-down&width=700
Clive Cookson, Science Editor YESTERDAY
An international scientific team has combed the DNA of 300,000 people to understand the genetic roots of hair colour, and found that, when it comes to European ancestry, nature prefers blonde women and brunette men.
”We found that women have significantly fairer hair, which reflects how important cultural practices and sexual preferences are in shaping our genes and biology,” said Tim Spector of King’s College London, joint leader of the project.
The research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, found 111 new genes that influence hair pigmentation on top of 13 that were already known. The study could have medical applications since some genes linked to hair colour are also associated with greater or reduced risk of certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. It will also help forensic scientists to reconstruct the appearance of unknown people from DNA left at crime scenes.
While genes for pale hair — and red hair — are more active in women, those for dark hair are much more active in men. ”Men are three times more likely to have black hair than women,” said Prof Spector...
Read the whole article: https://www.ft.com/content/0e425dfa-3f42-11e8-b7e0-52972418fec4