Redheads May Have Some Genetic Advantages. But They Are Predisposed to Other Illnesses, Scientists Say
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers from Harvard Medical School analyzed 10,000 years of DNA from nearly 16,000 humans to study the genetics behind red hair and fair skin, finding evidence of natural selection favoring these traits.
- The study, published in Nature, revealed that redheads may have genetic advantages including immunity to HIV, resistance to leprosy, lower risks of arthritis, alcoholism, male-pattern baldness, and increased resistance to bacterial and viral infections.
- Redheads were also found to be more efficient at producing vitamin D, an advantage in less sunny climates, but they face higher risks of Crohn's disease and celiac disease, likely linked to gluten sensitivity following the advent of wheat farming.
- Harvard geneticists emphasize the complexity of natural selection and how ancient genomic data allows scientists to observe how human biology has evolved over time.
