Red-headed Neanderthals? DNA says yes: study

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Some of our cave-dwelling Neanderthal relatives probably had red hair and fair complexions, much like modern-day humans of Celtic origin, according to a study released Thursday.

The finding comes from the first such analysis of DNA evidence taken from Neanderthal fossils recovered from El Sidron in northern Spain and Monti Lessini, Italy.

An analysis of the DNA revealed that the ancient hominids carried a mutation in the MC1R gene that codes for a protein involved in the production of melanin -- a substance that gives skin its color and also protects skin against ultraviolet light.

In modern humans, primarily of European descent, mutations in the MC1R gene are thought to be responsible for red hair and pale skin by dampening the activity of the protein.

The mutation observed in the Neanderthal genes was different from the one documented in humans, but when scientists inserted the Neanderthal gene into cells in a test tube, it seemed to have the same effect on melatonin production as the modern human genes, according to the study published in Science.

The genetic analysis doesn't seal the deal, but since the fossil record of Neanderthals does not include any samples of skin or hair, it is the best guide available, said Michael Hofreiter, a paleogeneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany.

Hofreiter said the number of red-headed Neanderthals was probably pretty small, possibly just one percent of the population.

But it was unlikely to have been tied to just a few ethnic groups and therefore red-heads might have been seen in any part of Europe or Asia where the ancient hominid lived.

Neanderthals, whose ancestors diverged from that of modern humans about 300,000 years ago, colonized Europe and parts of Asia, dominating Europe until about 30,000 years ago.

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071025/sc_af...Cg2cnRKH1zQOrgF

[SteveLaura 0]

Poor bastards. I can imagine Ug and his mates ganging up & picking on the gingers.

[yassmine2878 1]

Red-headed Neanderthals? My experience says yes. I used to date one!

[almaty 19]

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

f##k..i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Poor bastards. I can imagine Ug and his mates ganging up & picking on the gingers.

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

f##k..i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

If your knuckles don't drag on the ground brother, I think you're safe.

[almaty 19]

Poor bastards. I can imagine Ug and his mates ganging up & picking on the gingers.

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

f##k..i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

If your knuckles don't drag on the ground brother, I think you're safe.

damn, they do..and i have a bad underbite...and like raw meat....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Poor bastards. I can imagine Ug and his mates ganging up & picking on the gingers.

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

f##k..i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

If your knuckles don't drag on the ground brother, I think you're safe.

damn, they do..and i have a bad underbite...and like raw meat....

...add a unibrow and I'd say your relatives aren't from Maine.

[almaty 19]

Poor bastards. I can imagine Ug and his mates ganging up & picking on the gingers.

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

f##k..i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

If your knuckles don't drag on the ground brother, I think you're safe.

damn, they do..and i have a bad underbite...and like raw meat....

...add a unibrow and I'd say your relatives aren't from Maine.

whoa, no unibrow, but i lived in maine for a year..and had an Indian girlfriend marla, that made me feel like i was pertified wood

[Sister Fracas 5]

i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

evidence, evidence.... we need to see evidence...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Poor bastards. I can imagine Ug and his mates ganging up & picking on the gingers.

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.

f##k..i am red headed and pale as a ghost..

If your knuckles don't drag on the ground brother, I think you're safe.

damn, they do..and i have a bad underbite...and like raw meat....

...add a unibrow and I'd say your relatives aren't from Maine.

whoa, no unibrow, but i lived in maine for a year..and had an Indian girlfriend marla, that made me feel like i was pertified wood

:lol:

[almaty 19]

sorry sister fracas...i got too many enemies out there.........but my mother family was from wales and ireland..fether side from lithuania....

my mother..my brother..my sister and me..all red headed .....

and yes, i heard the comments..

red on the head like a ####### on a dog

red on the noodle like a pecker on a poodle

[yassmine2878 1]

whoa, no unibrow, but i lived in maine for a year..and had an Indian girlfriend marla, that made me feel like i was pertified wood

LOL! Ive never heard someone express such a feeling before.

And I must say, brother Dean, I never pictured you as a redhead.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

whoa, no unibrow, but i lived in maine for a year..and had an Indian girlfriend marla, that made me feel like i was pertified wood

LOL! Ive never heard someone express such a feeling before.

And I must say, brother Dean, I never pictured you as a redhead.

[almaty 19]

whoa, no unibrow, but i lived in maine for a year..and had an Indian girlfriend marla, that made me feel like i was pertified wood

LOL! Ive never heard someone express such a feeling before.

And I must say, brother Dean, I never pictured you as a redhead.

damn man, that's my old man out deer hunting

[one...two...tree 2,762]

whoa, no unibrow, but i lived in maine for a year..and had an Indian girlfriend marla, that made me feel like i was pertified wood

LOL! Ive never heard someone express such a feeling before.

And I must say, brother Dean, I never pictured you as a redhead.

damn man, that's my old man out deer hunting

...he's hung like wooly hamster.