“Gingers [red heads] extinct in 100 years, say scientists”

[jody]

Gingers extinct in 100 years, say scientists

The current National Geographic magazine reports that less than two per cent of the world's population has natural red hair, created by a mutation in northern Europe thousands of years ago.

* * * * * * * * * *

If the gingers really want to save themselves they should move to Scotland.

An estimated 40 per cent of Scots carry the red gene and 13 per cent actually have red hair.

Some experts say that redheads could be gone as early as 2060, but others say the gene can be dormant for generations before returning.

As one who’s mother, sister, wife, and son are redheads, I am distraught over the possible extinction of redheads.

We must start a “Save the Redheads” movement before it’s too late.

[jgraz]

1. First, we'll have to make sure that they're all really redheads

I volunteer to be an inspector.

[Richard Steele]

2. A world withou redheads is NOT a world I want to live in!

Something must be done! CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN RIGHT NOW!

[mikelgb]

3. natural selection

who says the mutation can't happen again too...

“Save the Redheads” can easily turn into save the Aryans... etc

no eugenics

[BlooInBloo]

18. Ok, that's a little much. lol!

[Akoto]

4. Wow. Who knew I was of a dying breed?

I've always hated my hair color, too. Guess I shouldn't take it for granted anymore. ;)

[tammywammy]

5. I read that this week

Red hair is also the youngest of all hair colors. :)

This book has a ton of red head trivia:


http://www.amazon.com/Redhead-Encyclopedia-Stephen-Douglas/dp/0964521601/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9929178-8750407?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187995228&sr=8-1

[Nikia]

6. I doubt it

As the article says, the gene can be dormant for generations. The fact that so many Scots carry the gene almost guarentees that it will last for several more generations. We haven't gotten rid of sickle cell anemia amongst American blacks. Why would we lose red head genes which are much more benign.

[mondo joe]

7. Um, if "the gingers" wanted to save themselves wouldn't they want to spread the

gene out into the gene pool as much as popular rather than confining it to Scotland?

[wuushew]

8. no, because it is a recessive gene

n/t

[mondo joe]

10. Right, but if they spread as widely as possible the recessive gene is spread

over more people. The more the recessive gene is spread, the more likely that two parents with a recessive gene will produce a "ginger".

If redheads reproductively isolate the recessive gene to a limited population, there will be more actual redheads - but the percentage of the population with the gene remains relatively constant.

(I don't mean to take it too seriously by the way -- just thinking out loud.)

[tammywammy]

14. Red hair is only 2% of the population

My mother's brother has red hair the same as me. But we don't know where in my dad's family there was red hair. It's a funny gene.

[wuushew]

9. I hate the term "Ginger"

As a red head I have never heard that term before it was used on a South Park episode.

[Lex]

22. The term has been long, long, long time used by the Brits.

nt

[Bluebear]

11. Meanwhile, MaryAnn is gleeful. nt

[Lars39]

28. *snicker*

:D

[bicentennial_baby]

12. Ginger Kids!!!

[blogslut]

13. What about the kajillion men

with red beards? Is the gene that decides beard color different from the one that determines head hair color?

[tammywammy]

15. Not really

I have an ex boyfriend that had red hair in his goatee. Those are the hairs that are going to go gray first. It's the hair losing it's melanin. It's basically a stage from one shade to another.

[Cybergata]

41. My father was Hispanic with brownish hair, but . . .

the one time he grew a beard, it was a surprise to find that it was red. I always figured it came from the Celts who were in Spain because no way it came from our Native American ancestors.

[Lex]

16. My 3 year old niece is a redhead!

And very mischievous, as you can tell from the look on her face in this pic I took (with my nephew):

[SidDithers]

17. International Ginger Kids Foundation...

http://gingerkids.org/

"We are people too. Even if we don't have souls."

Sid

[jody]

26. LOL!

:hi:

[Matariki]

19. wasn't there a South Park episode about this?

and also doesn't red hair occur occasionally in other places besides Europe?

[The Straight Story]

20. The wife is red head - and so is my daughter, I have done my part to save em

:)

[Blue_Tires]

21. nooooooooo

those of us with a thing for red-haired women are gonna be SOL

[The Straight Story]

24. Get em while you can!

I don't know why either, but I have a thing for em as well :)

[Annces]

23. I don't see how it could go away

And if it could, then there must be millions of other traits that will go by the wayside.

[The Straight Story]

25. Let's hope the trait that makes people act like assholes goes away :)

with our luck though, it will increase.

[Shine]

27. Jeez, if it's not one thing to worry about, it's another.....

:eyes:


:D

[alfredo]

29. Red Heads are beautiful

[kenny blankenship]

30. Gingers, get down to your local fertility clinic and Donate, Donate, Donate!

But be sure to describe yourself as blond on the sperm donor form. That will serve those blond sperm suckers right.

[dropkickpa]

31. Doubtful

In my family (5 boys 1 girl) there are 3 redheads, 2 strawberry blondes, and poor little me, the mousy reddish brunette girl. Neither of my parents are redheads (dad had dark brown now silver and grey and mom has brown with hints of red), but my paternal grandfather was. It's bred pretty darn true in my family, and has continued to (1 nephew is strawberry blond, the other a redhead), don't see why it wouldn't for others.

[ninkasi]

32. There are several redheads in my family

including me. I also, along with several family members, have AB- blood type, and many family members are left handed. My ancestors must have bred with people with the same recessive gene. On my mother's side of the family, we have many members who came from Scotland.

What is strange, is that being lefthanded is from my father's side of the family, the the red hair and negative blood types come from my mother's side.

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. I'm from a family of red heads....my sister, my dad, one of my brothers and me.

My sister's daughter (my niece) is a red head (sister married another red head) and her son has brown hair. My brother's daughter is a red head and her son has brown hair. My son got his dad's hair color and his flat feet.;) Poor thing got my complexion.....burns like a lobster if he doesn't wear his sunscreen.

SAVE THE RED HEADS! My son was going to move to France after college. Maybe I'll suggest he move to Scotland to keep the Flame burning! Maybe that dormant gene will show up again somewhere down the line.


I've never heard red heads called "Gingers." That's a new one. I was always called "Red."

[aquart]

34. The first time I heard it was when my Brit cousin

referred to my orange cat as the "ginger monster."

[Eileen]

35. Seems appropriate!

Ever sleep with a redhead?" "Not a wink."
All I want for Christmas is a Redhead wrapped in cellophane.
Anger not a Redhead, for thou would make a silly trophy on the wall.
Aye, the redhead! We wants the redhead! We wants the redhead!
Blondes have more fun, Redheads ARE more fun.
Chocolate, pizza, redheads, and Star Trek. What a combination!
I love sex with redheads, but my wife doesn't appreciate it.
NO HITCHHIKERS! (Except for redheads)
Smile! You could have married a Redheaded Computer Hater!
"Bother!" said Pooh with a sexy grin, as he tied-up his favorite redhead!!
Being normal isn't one of my strengths, but being a redhead is!!
During sex, you don't need to fantasize that I'm a redhead, I AM one!!!
Do you think a redhead will spontaneously combust for just *ANYBODY*?
Care to dance with an intense whip-toting redhead in leather & heels?
GOD was so impressed with redheads that he only made a few of them!!
Taglines are like redheads, you just THINK they're yours!!
If at first you don't succeed, then a redhead's not for you!
Sex with a redhead is like eating, three times a day oughta do it!!
Robust sex with a redhead will cause the bed to shift at least six inches! /*\
Last thing I remember was this leggy redhead with a whip...
If you have to choose between 2 evils, a redhead will be more fun!!
Behind every SATISFIED redhead, there is an EXHAUSTED man!!
Blondes have more fun, Redheads ARE more fun!!!
Men love sex with redheads, but there wives don't appreciate it!!
What is a blondes' mating call? <whiny voice> Are the redheads gone yet?!
You've never met a redheaded nymphomaniac, if you had you wouldn't be here!
Did you ever dance naked with a redhead in the pale moonlight??
Decadence with a redhead is its own reward!
Good girls keep diaries; redheads rarely have the time!
If you smoke after sex, you've just made love with a redhead!!
Nothing says "I love you" like 6 hrs. of SCREAMIN' SEX with a redhead!
Never underestimate the power of a redhead!
Scientist ask how, philosophers ask why, and redheads don't care!!!
How much wanton sex can you have with a redhead & still go to heaven??

Eileen

[Maeve]

36. This sounds sooo like the "blondes will be extinct" story of Silly Seasons gone by

and I believe it just as much
:eyes:
http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/blondes.asp

[entanglement]

37. You're aware that the last "blonds will soon be extinct" story turned out to be a fake?

It was widely reported in leading dailies and weeklies worldwide, btw.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

38. Thankfully, My Punk Ass Will Be Gone By Then.

Regardless, I'm sure hair dyes would've improved enough to not really have it make much difference.

[proud patriot]

39. I'm a red head and so is my son

Save the redheads sounds like a good cause to me :shrug:

[Jed Dilligan]

40. My dad's a redhead

upon reading this, I immediately suggested to my gf that I breed with her (hot) very redheaded friend...

[hedgehog]

42. Ever hear the theory that red hair is a Neanderthal trait?

Course, speaking as a red head, I think Neanderthals are neat.

[LostInAnomie]

43. I have a few red hairs in my beard

There comes a time when a man must selflessly give of himself. A time when altruism and pride in your people meet. Provide me with a bevy of beautiful redhead women and I'll gladly save my people. :patriot:

[The Straight Story]

44. A truer patriot has never graced our presence

:)

[JerseygirlCT]

45. My mom kept hoping for a redheaded kid, then grandkid

Lots of reddish hair, but no real red in there. (She's auburn).

Red hair is nice.

[Sabriel]

46. You hear that, JK Rowling?

Maybe you shouldn't've....

Oh, never mind.