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Why can redheads be considered "mutants"?
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redhead
voted interesting: bunnyphuphu M$0.25, jeffhoard M$0.25
answers (7)
Mutants? Why mutants just because they have a known mutated gene? All genes have mutated! It's just a matter of how far back you look. That's what evolution is all about.
"Mutant" is usually used for those who have a new mutation. For instance, if both parents did not have the version of the gene in question, but a random cosmic ray hit the DNA and caused the change in the child, then that child would indeed be a mutant. It really happens. About every 600,000 years or so, for this gene.
So redheads shouldn't be called mutants. They should be called Neanderthals. At least, if you want to look at it that way, and believe the research of some Oxford scientists. Their calculations are actually separate from but back up other lines of research which show Neanderthal man really did have that mutated version of the gene, and that the Neanderthals intermixed to some extent with the invading modern man.
"Mutant" is usually used for those who have a new mutation. For instance, if both parents did not have the version of the gene in question, but a random cosmic ray hit the DNA and caused the change in the child, then that child would indeed be a mutant. It really happens. About every 600,000 years or so, for this gene.
So redheads shouldn't be called mutants. They should be called Neanderthals. At least, if you want to look at it that way, and believe the research of some Oxford scientists. Their calculations are actually separate from but back up other lines of research which show Neanderthal man really did have that mutated version of the gene, and that the Neanderthals intermixed to some extent with the invading modern man.
source(s):
http://www.dhamurian.org.au/anthropology/neanderthal1.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071025143311.htm
http://www.dhamurian.org.au/anthropology/neanderthal1.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071025143311.htm
voted helpful: videopia
Hey! As a redhead, I don't like the phrasing of this question! ;)
That said, I think you are referring to the NYTimes study that found that red hair (and typically fair skin) results from a mutation in the MC1R gene. This gene also impacts pain receptors in the brain, making red-haired people more susceptible to pain.
That said, I think you are referring to the NYTimes study that found that red hair (and typically fair skin) results from a mutation in the MC1R gene. This gene also impacts pain receptors in the brain, making red-haired people more susceptible to pain.
Voted as best: kareul
that's why I put it in quotes, and I really couldn't figure any other way to word it. lol
As president of Redheads On Mahalo (@redgold is vice president and treasurer) I find your question to be silly but kinda true.
We all come from the ancestry of Valhalla and have the DNA of Gods, so I can see where some mutant factors come into play.
We've been accused of being sorcerers, genies and witches, and some of us are. I will not deny that factor of the Redhead myth.
As @redgold stated, we are only more susceptible to pain because we are immortal and 'special', making normal boo-boos feel like flesh wounds.
Now that you know the truth @chriswingate, you must take this information with a grain of salt since Redheads have also been linked to pixies, and they are masters of weaving horse poo into egyptian cotton!
We all come from the ancestry of Valhalla and have the DNA of Gods, so I can see where some mutant factors come into play.
We've been accused of being sorcerers, genies and witches, and some of us are. I will not deny that factor of the Redhead myth.
As @redgold stated, we are only more susceptible to pain because we are immortal and 'special', making normal boo-boos feel like flesh wounds.
Now that you know the truth @chriswingate, you must take this information with a grain of salt since Redheads have also been linked to pixies, and they are masters of weaving horse poo into egyptian cotton!
tags: redheads
voted helpful: chriswingate, dbiddie, redgold, krysstel
do you grant a refill of heart containers too?
:)
wow, so much for a serious science question. lol
:)
wow, so much for a serious science question. lol
I have learned talking with doctors and anesthesiologists about this long before the articles came out, and went through a few minor surgeries that needed adjustments from the normal measures. (yikes!)
Since this is a serious question, I'll include an article that I recently read
http://www.citizensreport.org/2009/08/12/redheads-need-more-anesthesia/
that states:
"The unusual hair color is a result of a mutation of the Melancortin-1 receptor (MCR1) gene, which can affect the perception of pain and block certain drugs meant to relieve pain".
And yes, I will refill any heart containers on the second Monday after a blue moon, from 2:00pm to 2:15pm only!
Since this is a serious question, I'll include an article that I recently read
http://www.citizensreport.org/2009/08/12/redheads-need-more-anesthesia/
that states:
"The unusual hair color is a result of a mutation of the Melancortin-1 receptor (MCR1) gene, which can affect the perception of pain and block certain drugs meant to relieve pain".
And yes, I will refill any heart containers on the second Monday after a blue moon, from 2:00pm to 2:15pm only!
Hey Bunnyphuphu, I am also a Redhead on Mahalo, when is our next meeting ; ) and How many are there of us on Mahalo?
you two should hold a Mahalo redhead con.
Hey, I just nabbed the redhead page!
I would welcome all suggestions from redheads (and @chriswingate!)
@librarian! Maybe you could post a question in the mahalo community asking who among us are redheads... that might be fun! (you could ask it from the redhead page!)
I would welcome all suggestions from redheads (and @chriswingate!)
@librarian! Maybe you could post a question in the mahalo community asking who among us are redheads... that might be fun! (you could ask it from the redhead page!)
@bunnyphuphu def pic or 2 of nerd hero felicia day
Jessica Rabbit is a redhead. Any relation?
http://erinkelley.net/journal/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/jessicarabbit.jpg
awesome
I went reddish brown when some white hairs came in at about age 55
hubby likes red more than blond (natural color is medium brown)
red is cool!!
http://www.jmatch.com/images/pr_photo_backup_21267233_87242_70.jpg
I went reddish brown when some white hairs came in at about age 55
hubby likes red more than blond (natural color is medium brown)
red is cool!!
Oh, ouch! I think I must protest the wording of that question. Scientific terms are never very sensitive, but I think mutant is a rather strong word to apply to a human, just because our skin and hair are different from non-redheads. Perhaps the use of unique...as in Why can redheads be considered "unique" (in scientific terms) would have been a better choice of wording.
source(s):
My opinion
My opinion
The other benefit red heads have as a result of their fair skin is increased vitamin d production in the skin from the sun, but the downside is less protection against harmful uv rays, ok if you like in Scotland!
As far as I know, all red heads are mutations from the original genetic code that designated the color of hair to be dark brown or black. This is also true for white skin. The mutation was a loss of the gene that regulated melanin in the skin.
There are seven genes associated with hair colour, controlling different aspects of the anatomy of hair colour, such as colour on the top of the head, colour of body hair from the ears down, colour of pubic and armpit hair, etc., which is why hair colour on the head does not necessarily match that of eyebrows or the pubes.
Each of these genes comes in several alleles, meaning each gene comes in varieties that vary how much pigment they let into the hair folacle. If they let a lot of of pigment in, the hair will be black, and if they let in just a bit, it will be blond.
But if the gene's allele is broken, then it cannot pass any pigment at all into the folacle, and the hair grows out looking red.
Therefore, depending on how you define "mutant", one might consider red-heads to be "mutants" in that their haircolour genes aren't mearly limited to how much pigment they can pass to the folacle... they are damaged, and can't pass any pigment at all.
Each of these genes comes in several alleles, meaning each gene comes in varieties that vary how much pigment they let into the hair folacle. If they let a lot of of pigment in, the hair will be black, and if they let in just a bit, it will be blond.
But if the gene's allele is broken, then it cannot pass any pigment at all into the folacle, and the hair grows out looking red.
Therefore, depending on how you define "mutant", one might consider red-heads to be "mutants" in that their haircolour genes aren't mearly limited to how much pigment they can pass to the folacle... they are damaged, and can't pass any pigment at all.
If there were no pigment being passed the hair would be white like an albino. Red hair is a matter of the balance between two different pigments. You are right that hair color is more complicated than one gene; but, red hair is predominantly controlled by this single gene.
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Would that also explain our hot tempers?