Skip to comments.
London - Red hair may be the genetic legacy of Neanderthals...
Planet Save.com ^
| 1/14/05
| Planet Save.com
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
TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: 1beatenlikeared; 2headedneanderthal; 3stepchild; archaeology; bigotry; caledonia; celts; dna; energy; fartyshadesofgreen; freckles; genetics; genius; ggg; gingergene; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; history; ireland; johnhawks; liveliness; mtdna; multiregionalism; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthalbadtemper; neanderthals; newgrange; pictish; picts; putyourclothesbackon; redhair; redhead; sensitivity; stepchildren; tuscany; youthfulness
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 361-373 next last
To: IGBT
Nothing wrong with Neanderthals.
To: nothingnew
I don't mind redheaded girls, either... just as long as the collars and cuffs match.
22
posted on
01/16/2005 12:56:34 PM PST
by
fieldmarshaldj
(*Gregoire is French for Stealing an Election*)
To: IGBT
No joke. I've known one or two red haired Neanderthals.
23
posted on
01/16/2005 12:56:43 PM PST
by
dr_who_2
To: IGBT
"...make shure you confirm they are REAL redheads. :) "Oh, it's all real.
24
posted on
01/16/2005 12:56:58 PM PST
by
billorites
(freepo ergo sum)
To: IGBT
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!!
25
posted on
01/16/2005 12:58:36 PM PST
by
exnavychick
(There's too much youth; how about a fountain of smart?)
To: IGBT
...make shure you confirm they are REAL redheads. :)Heh heh heh...the real test....applies to blondes as well...
FMCDH(BITS)
26
posted on
01/16/2005 12:58:52 PM PST
by
nothingnew
(Kerry is gone...perhaps to Lake Woebegone)
27
posted on
01/16/2005 1:00:06 PM PST
by
KneelBeforeZod
( I'm going to open Cobra Kai dojos all over this valley!)
To: IGBT
That explains Susan Sarandon.
28
posted on
01/16/2005 1:00:10 PM PST
by
srm913
To: dangus
True, they get the balck hair from the Spanish invaders.
29
posted on
01/16/2005 1:00:17 PM PST
by
It's me
To: IGBT; Admin Moderator; Sidebar Moderator
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 ;^)
30
posted on
01/16/2005 1:00:40 PM PST
by
elfman2
To: Celtic Rose
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
To: fieldmarshaldj
Yeah, well, upside down they......nevermind...not going there.
FMCDH(BITS)
32
posted on
01/16/2005 1:02:38 PM PST
by
nothingnew
(Kerry is gone...perhaps to Lake Woebegone)
To: Larry Lucido
I'll betcha she had extensive brow and mandible reduction surgery. Nothing out of the ordinary for Hollywood starlettes, though.
33
posted on
01/16/2005 1:04:15 PM PST
by
dr_who_2
To: IGBT
To: IGBT
35
posted on
01/16/2005 1:05:52 PM PST
by
bubman
To: ValerieUSA
To: nothingnew
Of course, it's not fair if the ladies cheat by switching from carpeting to parque flooring.
37
posted on
01/16/2005 1:08:01 PM PST
by
fieldmarshaldj
(*Gregoire is French for Stealing an Election*)
To: KneelBeforeZod
Bah, I see your Mean Girl and raise you everyone's favorite band geek;
38
posted on
01/16/2005 1:10:25 PM PST
by
swilhelm73
(Like the archers of Agincourt, ... the Swiftboat Veterans took down their own haughty Frenchman.)
To: Canticle_of_Deborah; Flying Circus
To: Gingersnap
"
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?
40
posted on
01/16/2005 1:14:21 PM PST
by
BobS
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 361-373 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson