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
Are you talking about the fact that Rossetti buried all of the manuscripts of his early poems in Siddal's coffin, which were subseqeuently dig up at the convincing of his "friend" Charles Howell?
Genes are always a mystery to me. My granddaughter looks like my late mother-in-law when she was her age, same shaped face and pouty mouth but she has her mom's teeth structure and smile. Interesting combination. I love mixtures. My dad had dark hair, almost black when he was young (Norwegian) and all of us grew up with blond hair.
What a strange picture. Is she floating or dead? I'm not familiar with the story.
Thanks for jogging my memory. But I still recall Rossetti having a crush on Janey although it's been a long time since I saw the reference.
Interesting juxtaposition between the sundial and her (clears throat) apparent feelings of euphoria, as I note the well house to my right http://www.lyricsondemand.com/o/ozarkmountaindaredevilslyrics/jackiebluelyrics.html
Is red hair a pre Raphaelite theme?
You can definitely say it is a theme of sorts. In his first two paintings, Rossetti portrayed the Virgin Mary as a redhead.
That's the one. And... it's on topic too, because her red hair had reportedly continued to grow after death, filling most of the coffin, and had to be cut to remove the manuscript. ;')
Waterhouse I think.
a second to what Pyro7480 said:
The Cult of Red Hair
Kylie Martin
http://www.morbidoutlook.com/fashion/articles/2001_02_redhair.html
John W Waterhouse, best known for:
http://www.dtalesminiatures.com/My%20Sweet%20Rose-J.W.Waterhouse.jpg
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/waterhouse/rose.jpg
ah... here's the one used for the bookcover:
http://www.20six.fr/pub/misterdids/lamia%201905%20Waterhouse.jpg
She's just drawn that way.
We do, or at least a ping list!
David Caruso is famous.
I don't know about handsome, that is up to you...
Thanks, Pyro! It's a beautiful picture, even if the subject matter is strange.
Thanks for the tip on Wilmington. Below is a link to Paglia's essay on pre-Raphaelite art:
http://privat.ub.uib.no/BUBSY/astro.htm
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