Hair Color Gene Chart

Melanocortin 1 receptor mc1r is the gene responsible for hair color determination.

Hair color gene chart. Hair color is the phenotypic modification of genes related to hair that shows noticeable variations within humans. Contrary to internet rumors redheads are not going extinct. But the balayage highlights and smatterings of color are just part of step two.

Hair color is determined by a number of genes. Hair color is primarily genetic and red hair is caused by mutations in the mc1r gene. The gene for red hair also causes an increased sensitivity to sunlight and a reduced sensitivity to anesthesia.

The genetics of our natural hair color. The color of the hair depends on the amount and type of melanin produced by melanocytes. The more eumelanin you have the darker the hair color will be.

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. Non red hair colors such as blonde and brunette take precedence over red hair. Hair color is so multifaceted that it s impossible to settle on one single shade.

Depending on how these genes combine the color of the hair will be different. Simply select known phenotypes like color of eyes or hair of child s father and mother and their grandparents and see the prediction. Melanins are pigments derived from an amino acid called tyrosine.

The most common gene which controls the color of our hair is a brown blonde gene which consists of a dominant brown allele and a recessive blonde allele. Each trait consists of two alleles one from your mother and one from your father they may be the same or they may be different. Eumelanin and pheomelanin generally if more eumelanin is present the color of the hair is darker.