London - Red hair may be the genetic legacy of Neanderthals...

Planet Save.com ^ | 1/14/05 | Planet Save.com

[IGBT]

London - Red hair may be the genetic legacy of Neanderthals, according to a new study by British scientists.

Researchers at the John Radcliffe Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford were quoted by The Times as saying the so-called "ginger gene" which gives people red hair, fair skin and freckles could be up to 100 000 years old.

They claim that their discovery points to the gene having originated in Neanderthal man who lived in Europe for 200 000 years before Homo sapien settlers, the ancestors of modern man, arrived from Africa about 40 000 years ago.

Rosalind Harding, the research team leader, told The Times: "The gene is certainly older than 50 000 years and it could be as old as 100 000 years.

"An explanation is that it comes from Neanderthals." It is estimated that at least 10 percent of Scots have red hair and a further 40 percent carry the gene responsible, which could account for their once fearsome reputation as fighters.

Neanderthals have been characterised as migrant hunters and violent cannibals who probably ate most of their meat raw. They were taller and stockier than Homo sapiens, but with shorter limbs, bigger faces and noses, receding chins and low foreheads.

The two species overlapped for a period of time and the Oxford research appears to suggests that they must have successfully interbred for the "ginger gene" to survive. Neanderthals became extinct about 28 000 years ago, the last dying out in southern Spain and southwest France. - Sapa-DPA

[Larry Lucido]

Nothing wrong with Neanderthals.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I don't mind redheaded girls, either... just as long as the collars and cuffs match.

[dr_who_2]

No joke. I've known one or two red haired Neanderthals.

[billorites]

"...make shure you confirm they are REAL redheads. :) "

Oh, it's all real.

[exnavychick]

Researchers at the John Radcliffe Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford were quoted by The Times as saying the so-called "ginger gene" which gives people red hair, fair skin and freckles could be up to 100 000 years old.

No wonder I feel so tired in the mornings! LOL Neaderthals, huh? I guess that's why I can't do math, either.

ROFL!!

[nothingnew]

...make shure you confirm they are REAL redheads. :)

Heh heh heh...the real test....applies to blondes as well...

FMCDH(BITS)

[KneelBeforeZod]

[srm913]

That explains Susan Sarandon.

[It's me]

True, they get the balck hair from the Spanish invaders.

[elfman2]

The source of this story is Planet Save.com , not “Researchers at the John Radcliffe Institute of Molecular Medicine ” as posted. One probably has credibility, the other calls themselves “Planet Save” ;^)

[TheLionessRN]

I harkend back to Clan of the Cave Bear for a moment while reading that article. It occurred to me that there aren't a lot of blonde-haired blue-eyed Spaniards or French, either. Last time I checked, blonde was a by-product of red.
I think the British scientist was just trying to couch his Anglo-centrism in scientific jargon

[nothingnew]

Yeah, well, upside down they......nevermind...not going there.

FMCDH(BITS)

[dr_who_2]

I'll betcha she had extensive brow and mandible reduction surgery. Nothing out of the ordinary for Hollywood starlettes, though.

[chemical_boy]

[bubman]

Bump

[Servant of the 9]

Redhead PING

So9

[fieldmarshaldj]

Of course, it's not fair if the ladies cheat by switching from carpeting to parque flooring.

[swilhelm73]

Bah, I see your Mean Girl and raise you everyone's favorite band geek;

[nickcarraway]

ping

[BobS]

"There is no marinade or rub that's going to make you people "finger lickin' good"."

LOL!!

Let's blindfold me and some other guys for a game called "Find the Redhead!" Hmmm. FOX is filming nearby tomorrow. Maybe I should relay this idea to them?