Blondes 'to die out in 200 years'

BBC On Line | Friday, 27 September, 2002, | Unsigned

[aculeus]

The last natural blondes will die out within 200 years, scientists believe.

A study by experts in Germany suggests people with blonde hair are an endangered species and will become extinct by 2202.

Researchers predict the last truly natural blonde will be born in Finland - the country with the highest proportion of blondes.

But they say too few people now carry the gene for blondes to last beyond the next two centuries.

The problem is that blonde hair is caused by a recessive gene.

In order for a child to have blonde hair, it must have the gene on both sides of the family in the grandparents' generation.

Dyed rivals

The researchers also believe that so-called bottle blondes may be to blame for the demise of their natural rivals.

They suggest that dyed-blondes are more attractive to men who choose them as partners over true blondes.

But Jonathan Rees, professor of dermatology at the University of Edinburgh said it was unlikely blondes would die out completely.

"Genes don't die out unless there is a disadvantage of having that gene or by chance. They don't disappear," he told BBC News Online.

"The only reason blondes would disappear is if having the gene was a disadvantage and I do not think that is the case.

"The frequency of blondes may drop but they won't disappear."

[Under the Radar]

The problem is that Europe, the fons et origo of all blondes, is contracepting and aborting itself into oblivion.

Blondes must be stupid.

I am afraid you are right...

[linear]

"You and I will be DEAD in 200 years, so why do you care?"

Speak for yourself, foolish mortal.

[twigs]

Obviously, I don't. I thought when a recessive gene mated with a dominant one, the dominant one prevailed. So you are saying that the recessive one can manifest itself. And still be carried on as a recessive gene and later manifest itself? I would like to understand genetics, but have some learning to do. Thanks.

[Tokhtamish]

The concern is misplaced. There are, after all, Palestinian Arab blondes, obviously the decendants of Crusaders who went native. If the blonde gene remains intact among Arabs for nearly a millenium, it can survive just about anything.

[buffyt]

My husband and daughter are really really BLONDE and my oldest son and I are strawberry blonde. If we are endangered, how about some protection? ha ha I think there will always be blondes, because there are varying degrees of albinos, some are totally albino, some are just really really pale and blonde with blue eyes, just lacking most pigment. They will continue to marry and keep the blonde dream alive. There will always be mutations like that. Do blondes have more fun? YES! PS My husband and daughter are very very very smart. He is a chemical engineer and I think he is a genius, but I would NEVER tell him that. My daughter graduated at the top of her class, and is extremely bright. I don't get the blonde jokes. Most stupid people have dark hair (AlGore, Kennedy, Barney Frank, young Clinton, etc) Gephardt is a redhead. hmmmmm........

[maxwell]

"The only reason blondes would disappear is if having the gene was a disadvantage and I do not think that is the case.

BWAAAAAHAHAHA!

Lemme guess, Dr. Rees is a blond...

[buffyt]

Ann BRILLIANT Coulter is blonde. A lovely brilliant blonde. I have noticed that a lot of conservative women are beautiful blondes, unafraid to be feminine. On the other hand, look at all the dark haired Nags.

[buffyt]

Gee, thanks. I don't insult you.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm glad they didn't say redheads......

[Constitution Day]

Hey, what was the name of the Freeper who got her panties in such a twist over the blonde jokes recently?
I can't remember!

[Constitution Day]

I'm glad they didn't say redheads......

Jeez, me too!
I'm married to one. ;^)

[sweetliberty]

"In an unrelated study by the Lowenstein Institute, it has been determined that the average human IQ is expected to increase over the next 200 years..."

ROTFL!

[ZinGirl]

get out...I was JUST gonna ping you (you know, did you check out the other thread about it?...some pix you might enjoy...they weren't really up my alley!)

REPUBLICANHIPPY...wasn't that it? but don't mention my name!

[Holden Magroin]

I prefer brunettes.

[Under the Radar]

Ms. Coulter is indeed brilliant, although I have no idea of she is a natural blonde underneath all that bleach. However, I daresay Ms. Coulter would agree with what I agreed with above, which is:

The problem is that Europe, the fons et origo of all blondes, is contracepting and aborting itself into oblivion.

[Constitution Day]

Which other thread? I didn't see it.

BTW, I think you're right about R.H.
I also think *you* should ping her. ;^)

[sweetliberty]

I had always learned also that the blonde gene was recessive, however, on the rare occasions that blonde has turned up in my family it seems to be particularly tenacious. My dad had black hair as a young man and my mama's was dark brown. I am a redhead and my sister is a brunette. My daughter is a blonde (her dad is not). She married a Mexican with very black hair and dark eyes but their son is blonde with blue eyes. Go figure.

[Redbob]

As long as there's peroxide, there'll be blondes in Texas!

[Tired of Taxes]

I thought when a recessive gene mated with a dominant one, the dominant one prevailed. So you are saying that the recessive one can manifest itself. And still be carried on as a recessive gene and later manifest itself?

I'm not an expert in genetics, either, but I remember learning that the recessive gene is carried. My parents both have dark hair and dark eyes, yet I was a blue-eyed blond (which changed to darker hair later). Both parents have to share the recessive blue-eyed gene, for example, and the child must inherit both recessive genes to have blue eyes. (I guess it works the same way with hair color). That's why my children all have black eyes, even though mine are blue, because their father doesn't carry the recessive blue-eyed gene. But all my children WILL carry the recessive gene. So, if they marry someone with blue eyes or a blue-eyed gene, they could have blue-eyed children or at least children who pass the recessive gene along... (Hope that made sense).

That's why two-hundred years sounds like too short a time for natural blond hair to disappear from the face of the earth. But, hey, better claim minority status now before someone catches on to this study! ;-)

[sweetliberty]

ROTFL!