Red-headed Neanderthals? DNA says yes: study

[Demokat]

Now I know why, as a fair-skinned strawberry blond, I do well on the caveman diet. ;)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071025/sc_afp/scienceneanderthalsus_071025183936

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.

[ProteusOne]

The study suggests that the genes that confer pale skin and red hair evolved separately in humans and our closest extinct relatives.
I've always believed that red headed peoples evolved separately, and may in fact be a separate species. :D

[Demokat]

I've always believed that red headed peoples evolved separately, and may in fact be a separate species. :D

:D Do you mean the freckles or the temper?

[Heidihi]

I am a redhead (with the odd gray hairs now)

thanks for sharing that!

I still have both freckles and a temper however but the gray is good I think it mellowed me out a bit!

[Ann1231]

I'm a redhead too. Nice to know I'm eating right ;)

[Heidihi]

I love that there are three redheaded woman posting in a single thread :D

[kallyn]

I was redheaded once after my stylist got done with me. :p

[Heidihi]

I was redheaded once after my stylist got done with me. :p


I used to strip my hair blonde to stay away from the redhead stereo types (like being blonde was a better stereo type :p )..then I said fk it I am what I am!!! :D and that is a constant source of humor to my friends, family and coworkers..so what the heck they blame everything on my hair instead of me!!!

[Chaquita]

I love that there are three redheaded woman posting in a single thread :D

Uh...FOUR! I'm a natural red head. :wave:

Okay, so I rarely post here, but I "snoop" here, and follow the Paleo diet. Tried the "Fatkins", and it just wasn't "working for me". Have since gone back to the way I primarily ate for years, which is lean meats and tons of veggies, and the weight is now off, and I feel great!

[kallyn]

I used to strip my hair blonde to stay away from the redhead stereo types (like being blonde was a better stereo type :p )..then I said fk it I am what I am!!!

Lol too funny! I'm a natural blonde. :daze: We just took each other's places on the opposing teams. ;)

[waywardsis]

I was a redheaded baby (full head of orange hair when I emerged, and my mum says it was perfectly styled), then went more strawberry blonde, and as I got older I got more auburny-brunette with red streaks. But I am still a pure redhead in my soul ;)

Interesting...I'm English/Irish too, how about the other reds?

[Demokat]

Scandanavian/Irish/Welsh/German. There are quite a few redheads in Norway, Scotland, and Germany. :) Ireland is mostly brunette, or it at least seems that way.

[Lynnx]

I wonder if there is any connection to celiac/wheat intolerance with this "red gene"...

[Heidihi]

4 redheads all real and one who has crossed over to the red side!!!

and they say we are going extinct!!!

I am half French/English (mother) and half Middle Eastern Jew (father)
My mom and a few of her her aunts were raging reds with gray eyes, white skin and freckles! ..my dad obviously not he has black hair and brown skin ..my complexion and hair are obviously from my mothers side although my temper and anxiety about life came from my Dad actually

I do tan as a result of my dad I believe not dark dark but darker than most people with my skin tone so there is some of his brownness in me I guess

no one in my family has ever been overweight except me

and now my sons who subsist on crapfood have put on a lot of weight since moving out on thier own

[Demokat]

I wonder if there is any connection to celiac/wheat intolerance with this "red gene"...

Interesting question. I'm a celiac redhead, but my sister is a celiac brunette. It may have more to do with redheads coming from Northern Europe, where celiac is more common.

[kallyn]

That may have merit. I'm blonde/blue eyes/really fair skin and almost all my ancestors came from England. I do really well on a mostly paleodiet, although I've never completely eliminated wheat/gluten long enough to find out if I have a problem with it specifically.

[Nancy LC]

I'm pretty sure all nationalities have celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, except there is one genetic type that doesn't. Double HLA DQ4 seems to be resistant to the problem and that's usually only found in Asians.

[deirdra]

I'm a natural redhead too, of English/Irish/German descent who also does best on no grains.

[Heidihi]

I can not eat sugar, wheat, potatoes or rice with out turning into a mental case about food ...I am a white food junky pure and simple ..if I dont eat it I dont want it and I dont gain wt or feel like crap..if I do eat it ...well it is ugly...anyway if that is related to my redheaded genetics I wonder how the other redheads got away with out..being fat...oh wait ...they were alcoholics and never ate! that explains it!!! same genes different diets :p

I have been convinced for YEARS as a nurse that people are genetically predisposed to poor carb metabolism seeing ..whole families with issues that are not only externally promoted but are internally predisposed ..food and booze seem to go hand and hand .sometimes one in each hand actually! ...I am not a deep thinker ..or all that articulate however i have seen a lot ..and what I say comes from what I see ...and trust me I would be out of business if people ate what their bodies needed insteaf of what they wanted ..


everyone of the redheads in my family except me (ok in three generations there were four) has/had a drinking problem ..I am a sugar junky BAD BAD BAD
while I do not crave booze when I do drink I want to eat the furntiture ...does this go back to the way back times?

does this relate or am I rambling?

[Ann1231]

I'm an Irish/German redhead with celiac.

My Mom always told me when I was born everyone kept going on that I had bright red hair, my Dad even left the hospital to tell all the family I had red hair but no one bothered to mention I was a girl! My mom had to yell at the nurse to get her attention long enough to find out that yes, I was a redhead but what sex was I?! My Dad had to go back to the hospital to find out I was a girl THEN go back and tell everyone else!

[Demokat]

I can not eat sugar, wheat, potatoes or rice with out turning into a mental case about food ...I am a white food junky pure and simple ..if I dont eat it I dont want it and I dont gain wt or feel like crap..if I do eat it ...well it is ugly...anyway if that is related to my redheaded genetics I wonder how the other redheads got away with out..being fat...oh wait ...they were alcoholics and never ate! that explains it!!! same genes different diets :p

I have been convinced for YEARS as a nurse that people are genetically predisposed to poor carb metabolism seeing ..whole families with issues that are not only externally promoted but are internally predisposed ..food and booze seem to go hand and hand .sometimes one in each hand actually! ...I am not a deep thinker ..or all that articulate however i have seen a lot ..and what I say comes from what I see ...and trust me I would be out of business if people ate what their bodies needed insteaf of what they wanted ..


everyone of the redheads in my family except me (ok in three generations there were four) has/had a drinking problem ..I am a sugar junky BAD BAD BAD
while I do not crave booze when I do drink I want to eat the furntiture ...does this go back to the way back times?

does this relate or am I rambling?

I wrote something a while back about my dad and his sugar habit. My dad's brothers were alcoholics, and one just lost a leg to diabetes. My father has many of the highs and lows of a drinker, only with sweets. So yes, you are spot on! :)

[Heidihi]

I wrote something a while back about my dad and his sugar habit. My dad's brothers were alcoholics, and one just lost a leg to diabetes. My father has many of the highs and lows of a drinker, only with sweets. So yes, you are spot on! :)


can you direct me to what you wrote I would love to read it

[Nancy LC]

I wrote something a while back about my dad and his sugar habit. My dad's brothers were alcoholics, and one just lost a leg to diabetes. My father has many of the highs and lows of a drinker, only with sweets. So yes, you are spot on! :)
Ya know... think about his. The native Americans have a horrible time with carbs. They get diabetes and those chronic diseases like mad when they start eating SAD. They also have a lot of alcoholism problems too. I wonder if these two things are linked?

[girlgerms]

So, basically, if you're a red head you're a mutant?
Evolutionists are so cute.

[amberview]

I just wanted to add...that I have red hair too. Used to be almost orange when I was a child, I think it is more auburn now.

[Heidihi]

I personally think us redheads are way cuter than evolutionists..although I appreciate their efforts and all :)

eta (I do believe in evolution I am just being sarcastic)

[Ayustar]

I believe in evolution and I am a red head *shrug* I am ok with being a mutant. People who have one eye different colored than the other are considered mutants, since it is a mutation. I wouldn't consider it an insult.

Sugar in almost all forms hates me, I can deal with fructose though, like fresh fruit and pure fruit juice, they don't cause me to be sick or have any adverse reactions.

[lizwhip]

Another redhead (of Irish ancestry) checking in. I definitely thrive on a low-carb diet. And I actually love knowing that I'm a mutant!

[Demokat]

can you direct me to what you wrote I would love to read it

back on 10/8:

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=351033&page=1&pp=15&highlight=diabetes

"Congrats on your 4 months! I have always thought that alcoholism and sugar/carb cravings were related because I witnessed this in my family. My dad doesn't drink, but he is a sugar addict, and has many of the emotional highs and lows and behaviors (hiding sweets, etc) of an addict. His father and brothers were/are alcoholics, and one of his brothers just lost part of his leg to diabetes. My dad has cycled on and off low carb diets for years, and thankfully my mom cooks low carb and healthy. So his brothers have been sober now for decades, but the sugar cravings for one of my uncles replaced the alcohol."

[perfectfit]

I've always believed that red headed peoples evolved separately, and may in fact be a separate species. :D

As a redhead, I thank you for your comment. :lol:

[perfectfit]

Interesting...I'm English/Irish too, how about the other reds?

I'm of Scottish ancestry. :D

[Nancy LC]

Hmmm... I have a red-headed complexion (freckles, pale skin) but blonde hair. However my mother did produce one red-headed child and her mother's family had a lot of red-heads. So I must have mutant-alien blood in my genetics too. :D

[kallyn]

I'm of Scottish ancestry. :D

Me too! Just about 50/50 English/Scottish with a smattering of German in the mix.

[Demokat]

Another redhead (of Irish ancestry) checking in. I definitely thrive on a low-carb diet. And I actually love knowing that I'm a mutant!

You look just like my aunt-also a redhead. :)

[waywardsis]

About the native/alcohol/carbs/sugar thing. My bf has native ancestry on his mum's side (his maternal grandmother and her family are native) and he has (well, had) a real problem with both alcohol and sugar. Since he gave up drinkin several years ago, he's been a Coke fiend (the soda, that is) and drinks at least 2 litres a day. He craves it.

I'm not sure if we had any reds on the Irish side - my English granddad was the redhead I got it from (red hair, blue eyes, fair skin). He died when my mum was 13 from a blood clot around his heart. Our Irish side seems to enjoy dying from various GI cancers (colon, stomach, etc) which I believe are related to gluten intolerance/celiac (and the Irish side are all short, have bad eyesight, get headaches, etc).