What are "they" putting in the water?

[old man emu]

When I was a kid, it was not very common to see red-headed kids, unless they were newly arrived Ten Pound Tourists. Nowadays there's Blueys everywhere amongst those of Western European ethnicity.

 

You can't say that it's all due to a Celtic genotype. Mine has a lot of Celt in it, and apart from some ginger in my beard as a youth, my hair at that time was mousy brown. My son has a ginger beard, but mousy brown hair, but my grandson is a copper top.

 

What's causing this? Is it a side effect of fluoride, or the stuff they put in to purify the water before it flows down our rotten pipes?

 

Old Man Emu

 

 

[pmccarthy]

A young fellow from the Bahamas

 

Had bought a new pair of pajamas

 

He said they look good

 

And they fit as they should

 

But they tickle my Huntley and Palmers.

 

Huntley and Palmers were biscuit manufacturers, famous for their Ginger Nuts.

 

 

[farri]

Been wondering what they put in the water, myself.......most of my lightly ginger hair that I had when I was younger, has turned grey.

 

Biochemistry and genetics

 

The pigment pheomelanin gives red hair its distinctive color. Red hair has far more of the pigment pheomelanin than it has of the dark pigment eumelanin.

 

The genetics of red hair, discovered in 1997, appear to be associated with the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is found on chromosome 16. Red hair is associated with fair skin color because low concentrations of eumelanin throughout the body of those with red hair caused by a MC1R mutation can cause both. The lower melanin concentration in skin confers the advantage that a sufficient concentration of important Vitamin D can be produced under low light conditions. However, when UV-radiation is strong (as in regions close to the equator) the lower concentration of melanin leads to several medica disadvantages, such as a higher risk of skin cancer.

 

The MC1R recessive variant gene that gives people red hair generally results in skin that is unable to tan. Because of the natural tanning reaction to the sun's ultraviolet light and high amounts of pheomelanin in the skin, freckles are a common but not all-inclusive feature of red-haired people. Eighty percent of redheads have an MC1R gene variant,[2] and the prevalence of these alleles is highest in Scotland and Ireland.

 

Red hair can originate from several changes on the MC1R-gene. If one of these changes is present on both chromosomes then the respective individual is likely to have red hair. This type of inheritance is described as an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Even if both parents do not have red hair themselves, both can be carriers for the gene and have a redheaded child.

 

Genetic studies of dizygotic (fraternal) twins indicate that the MC1R gene is not solely responsible for the red hair phenotype; unidentified modifier genes exist, making variance in the MC1R gene necessary, but not always sufficient, for red hair production.

 

Frank.

 

 

[old man emu]

The genetics of red hair, appear to be associated with the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is found on chromosome 16. The MC1R recessive variant gene gives people red hair.

 

That is a clear statement of the genetics of the situation, but something must have happened to apparently increase the frequency of the MC1R recessive as expressed in Millenium kids. Is is possible that the recessive gene became more frequent in the late 20th Century, and, while not appearing as pair in Gen X &Y, its increased frequency has lead to its greater appearance in their progeny?

 

OME

 

 

[facthunter]

My head is starting to hurt. If you are worried about what's in water start worrying about what is being put in your (what goes for) food, especially of the "processed" variety.

 

on the other matter,There's always a throw back effect possible with genes where something from a long way back produces features not seen in other recent progeny. Nev

 

 

[Marty_d]

The genetics of red hair, appear to be associated with the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is found on chromosome 16. The MC1R recessive variant gene gives people red hair.

That is a clear statement of the genetics of the situation, but something must have happened to apparently increase the frequency of the MC1R recessive as expressed in Millenium kids. Is is possible that the recessive gene became more frequent in the late 20th Century, and, while not appearing as pair in Gen X &Y, its increased frequency has lead to its greater appearance in their progeny?

 

OME

My wife and I both have dark hair (well, I used to, it's a lot "lighter" now...) - but our second child was born with very light blond hair.

 

And before you jump to the obvious, yes, he is mine...

 

Three out of 4 of his grandparents also had dark hair, the other one was reddish brown.

 

His two cousins who shared that grandparent are total 'rangas.

 

The force is strong in these...

 

 

[spacesailor]

Never mind the water!.

 

What is the "emulsifier" they put in the milk, ( it mixes the fatty cream with the water bit.)

 

spacesailor

 

 

[old man emu]

Do kids still drink milk? I thought it was all fruit juice and sugary soft drinks.

 

 

[facthunter]

Long life means for the milk, Not the person drinking it. If bacteria won't eat it you shouldn't either. Nev

 

 

[storchy neil]

gee nev some of the sheet I heard should have died years ago eaten neil

 

 

[facthunter]

Processed means don't eat it. That's where the big profits are made. yes I've had asbestos mercury chromium nitro methane nitro benzene lead silicon dust, smoking ,Diesel fumes Agricultural sprays etc. That's why I will probably only make 100. Nev

 

 

[storchy neil]

gee nev you have lived a sheltered life all off the above and your still that good looking neil

 

 

[facthunter]

Have you had your vision checked, Neil? I walk very fast past mirrors, these days., and I shave in the shower. Nev

 

 

[storchy neil]

naah don't have them there lying bloody things any more mirrors are banned and me glasses arnt needed neil