Posted on 01/16/2005 12:47:07 PM PST by 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
I haven't had Virginia Mayo since that time I stayed in Alexandria. [rimshot!]
That one is a big fave. Lot of good Victorian-era painters, many of them painting mythological scenes, or using ancient history (Alma-Tadema being the first example which comes to mind).
old-fashioned Kidman
http://img114.exs.cx/img114/5113/nicolekidmanmint1282hz.jpg
I'm not a Nicole Kidman fan -- her eyes look creepy -- but that photo is actually quite nice.
Disclaimer #1: I find I have a folder, ahem, of Nicole Kidman on the hard drive
Disclaimer #2: I'd probably, y'know, date her if opportunity arose.
Disclaimer #3: Opportunity ain't gonna arise. ;')
Such are the limitations of life in Michigan.
:') yeah, that's pretty much a limitation everywhere I think. ;')
Poor Nicole.......
Yeah, her loss. ;')
>>I am a redhead of Scottish decent and I am not comfortable with the idea that a British scientist has attributed red hair to Neanderthals. It smacks of a slur, for some reason.<<
That is interesting. My wife is a redhead and I took it as a compliment as I was reading the article.
Why? Because Neanderthals had bigger brains.
Since they presumably believe in evolution why wouldn't the red hair gene evolve independently in humans as it did in neanderthals (democrats). There is nothing in theory or fact that demands inheritance from neanderthals to humans.
Clairol does not a Neanderthal make.
Don't redheads have short tempers?
I handled the redhead quite well, and with a very fine hand - one that, well, I cannot say here.
Please don't assume - it was wrong. Thank you.
I think TR was just joking with you. I sincerely doubt she meant any offense.
I did not either, fwiw.
Hey Deborah,
Check this out.
Thanks again.
Does that come with a diagnostic code? :-D
Are you in the medicl field as well?
Yes, I'm a RN. Aren't you too?
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