Mazzerkhan
New Member
I was wondering if some of you could help me. Child (12) and I were disscussing benefical mutations in skin colour and skin melanin content tonight. We talked about how darker skin protected in hotter climates from uv damage and lighter skins being avantageous to Vit D production in darker (northern climates)..then she asked the question I couldn't answer.."Mum why are we ginger?". (I have been waiting for this..). Any way my question is do any of you know what the genetic avantages to being ginger are or are we just a random mutation? if we are just random are there any theories as to why it became so prevalent in the UK/Irish poplulations? Please be aware that I am actually looking for serious answers..god made you that way won't cut it. (I have also heard EVERY ginger joke ever.. so don't bother...) If the answer is "nobody knows" cool. PS I also told child about the neanderthal theories which she found amusing, but think it was because I said the words..inter breeding. But is there really any validity in that hypothesis? Any help or links would be appreciated..