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Redheads are better at coping with pain
CTV.ca ^

Posted on 08/11/2005 12:10:20 PM PDT by Grig

People with ginger locks are head and shoulders above blondes or brunettes when it comes to coping with pain, researchers claim.

Scientists have found that the gene responsible for flame-coloured hair also produces a morphine-type substance that acts like an anaesthetic and reduces pain.

When researchers at the Medical Research Council in London introduced the gene in mice, they found the rodents could withstand more pain than normal.

"Seventy per cent of redheads are redheads because a particular gene doesn't work," Prof. Jeff Mogil of Montreal's McGill University, told CTV News.

"This is a gene that would otherwise give you brown hair. This gene is also relevant to pain and pain killing by certain drugs."

Researchers in Scotland will now launch studies on humans to confirm the theory.

The findings could lead to the development of new drugs to combat chronic pain.

The hair colour gene produces a protein pivotal to feeling pain.

In blondes and brunettes, it produces high levels of the protein, which means they feel pain much more keenly.

The gene that's linked to red hair, melanocortin-1, dates back about 100,000 years.

Ancient Romans considered the colour unlucky but the Egyptians thought redheads were favoured by the gods. Some of the Pharaohs were ginger.

Britain's greatest warrior, Boudicca, was a redhead. One Roman described her as "tall and terrifying... a great mass of red hair fell over her shoulders".

Being tougher than the rest could also explain the strength of famous redheads through the ages.

Napoleon, Cleopatra, Columbus, Vincent Van Gogh, William Shakespeare, George Washington, Florence Nightingale and Winston Churchill were all redheads.


TOPICS: Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: freckles; gingergene; gingers; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; redhair; redheads; spankem
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To: Grig

Someone...Anyone... Lindsay Lohan pics, please!


81 posted on 08/11/2005 1:20:16 PM PDT by Ranald S. MacKenzie (Its the philosoophy, stupid.)
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To: Grig

I'd rather be dead than have red on the head, like the tip of the XXXK of a dog.


82 posted on 08/11/2005 1:23:49 PM PDT by doctor noe
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To: Tijeras_Slim
LOL - Reds can be be meanies.
83 posted on 08/11/2005 1:39:02 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: ValerieUSA

Is thes true, Valerie?


84 posted on 08/11/2005 1:40:42 PM PDT by operation clinton cleanup
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FWIW: According to Homer, Odysseus was a redhead, Achilles was blond. Odysseus survived.
85 posted on 08/11/2005 2:19:53 PM PDT by hang 'em (Here Lies Peter Jennings - Deported with Extreme Prejudice.)
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To: ASA Vet

That sound you hear is my little bubble bursting.....;-)


86 posted on 08/11/2005 2:48:39 PM PDT by OB1kNOb (Cap lock key is your friend.)
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To: Grig
Redheads are better at coping with pain

Can we test this out on Carrot Top?


87 posted on 08/11/2005 2:54:29 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl (OMGIIHIHOIIC ping list)
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To: Ranald S. MacKenzie
Someone...Anyone... Lindsay Lohan pics, please!


88 posted on 08/11/2005 3:01:35 PM PDT by OB1kNOb
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To: OB1kNOb

89 posted on 08/11/2005 3:43:01 PM PDT by Capt. Canuck
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To: ValerieUSA

Realization of failing memory can be painful. ;')


90 posted on 08/11/2005 10:35:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

thanks.


91 posted on 08/11/2005 10:35:25 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)
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To: ValerieUSA

Morphine-like substance... Maybe this explains why redheads are addictive...


92 posted on 08/11/2005 10:36:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.)
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To: Grig

Both my brother and I are redheads, and while I do think our tolerance for pain is pretty high, I'm not sure it's due to our haircolor. I think we're just ornery.

There is one pain, though, that really rings my bell: Toothache.

I've been through broken bones, slicing the tip of my finger off with a meat slicing machine, abdominal surgery and childbirth, and I tell you now, there is NOTHING that hurts more than a bad toothache. I'm not talking about a little pinpoint cavity toothache, I'm talking about an "it's so bad you want to rip off your own face" toothache. I've had two of them, and I NEVER want to have another one again.

Oh, if only being a redhead had spared me that...

Regards,


93 posted on 08/11/2005 10:42:13 PM PDT by VermiciousKnid
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Just adding this to the GGG catalog, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

94 posted on 07/20/2006 10:16:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Wednesday, June 21, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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