Was Red Hair "In" Among Neanderthals Too?

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology are conducting a study of Neanderthal DNA and have newly discovered that at least one percent of Neanderthals might have had red hair.

Today, only two percent of humans have naturally red hair. The red hair is caused by a mutation in the gene mclr. The mutation in the gene causes a change the mclr to change from carrying the protein melanin which leads to dark pigments in the skin, hair, and eyes. Instead the mclr gene carries the protein melanin which generates light pigments in the eyes, hair, and skin. In many cases melanin produces red hair, fair skin, and freckles.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute are being lead by Michael Hofreiter in the study and also working with scientist Carles Lalueza-Fox at the University of Barcelona and scientist Michael Hofreiter at the University of Leipzig. Together, the researchers learned the nature of the Neanderthal's hair color through genetic analysis.

The researchers extracted Neanderthal DNA and then extracted a piece of mc1r from the DNA. They then multiplied the piece of mc1r gene. After multiplying the piece of gene they found that it had a variant that is not seen in humans today.

The researchers tested the gene sample to see if it had been contaminated by modern human DNA. The researcher performed many intricate tests and were able to safely reach the conclusion that the gene sample had not been contaminated. They also tested the sample to see if the gene came from their having damaged the DNA, or if it was a result of errors they made in multiplying the DNA. The method of multiplying DNA is called polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. The scientists did not find that the gene, or the DNA from which it came, had been contaminated in any way.

The scientists also performed a test to see how active the newly found gene is. They found that the gene mutation is not very active, similar to mutated genes found in humans today. In humans today, a similarly inactive mutated gene stems from other gene mutations and creates the pigments for red hair. The scientists have therefore concluded that the gene also produced red hair in Neanderthals and that a small percentage of Neanderthals had red hair and light colored skin.

Although red heads in the past have received their fare share of scorn and ridicule, in today's society, red hair has gained a new popularity and become a new sex symbol. Fashion magazines have predicted that more men and women than usual will be dying their hair red this year. Also, Germany declaring its Next Top Model to be redhead Barbara has lead fashion magazines to state that red has become the new blonde.

Fossil remains and DNA of course do not indicate whether or not Neanderthals found red hair more sexually attractive or more socially repugnant.

Michael Hofreiter, "Red hair and freckles ...," Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.