Genetics Of Hair Color

Mc1r is the best studied hair color gene in humans.

Genetics of hair color. Hair color is the phenotypic modification of genes related to hair that shows noticeable variations within humans. It turns out hundreds of genes influence hair color. Some of the genes associated with hair color also influence eye color skin pigmentation and freckles.

If less eumelanin is present the hair is lighter. The color of the hair depends on the amount and type of melanin produced by melanocytes. Skin color and hair color are partly dependent.

Generally hair colors are classified into dark and light in which the former is. The genetics of our natural hair color. The genetic link you might wonder if there s a single gene that causes hair to be blonde brown or black.

Levels of melanin can vary over time causing a person s hair color to change and it is possible to have hair follicles of more than one color on the same person. In europeans blonde hair is also loss of function but to a lesser extent and so one may have dark skinned people with blonde hair. Melanocortin 1 receptor mc1r is the gene responsible for hair color determination.

Eumelanin and pheomelanin generally if more eumelanin is present the color of the hair is darker. Hair color is the pigmentation of hair follicles due to two types of melanin. For example the mc1r locus is loss of function along with others in red haired individuals.