Red Hair Color Genes

Eumelanin comes in either black or brown with varying amounts responsible for ranges of hair color from blond low eumelanin to black high eumelanin.

Red hair color genes. Eumelanin and pheomelanin are the two pigments that play a significant role in how hair colors. The type and amount of melanin in hair is determined by many genes. An abundance of eumelanin gives people black or brown hair whereas an abundance of pheomelanin gives people red hair.

Genetics and biochemistry of hair color Two types of pigment give hair its color. Melanin level is not constant. The most studied gene that determines hair color in humans is called MC1R.

Someone who has black or brown hair is making large amounts of a dark pigment called eumelanin. Interestingly everyone has the pheomelanin pigment in their hair which creates orange and red hair color. The gene present in red hair is recessive.

The inheritance of red hair color depends on the hair color of the parents. It was originally thought that red hair was caused by a single gene called MC1R often referred to as the ginger gene. Higher levels of eumelanin in the hair determine how dark it is.

The stable and reddish nature of the pheomelanin molecules cause the resultant red hair color. The levels of black or brown eumelanin determine. It now turns out they didnt even carry the gene for it.

As it differs over time it can cause hair color to change. What color will my babys hair be. According to the largest ever study on hair genetics at least 8 genes are involved in determining whether or not someone has red hair.