Why do experts think that red heads are becoming extinct?

Answer 1

Do they? This Seattle Times story should clear it up. For the entire article, go to the source link listed below.

Monday, May 9, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.

Will rare redheads be extinct by 2100?
By Robin L. Flanigan
Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

...If predictions by the Oxford Hair Foundation come to pass, the number of natural redheads everywhere will continue to dwindle until there are none left by the year 2100.

The reason, according to scientists at the independent institute in England, which studies all sorts of hair problems, is that just 4 percent of the world's population carries the red-hair gene. The gene is recessive and therefore diluted when carriers produce children with people who have the dominant brown-hair gene.

Dr. John Gray's explanation of his foundation's findings: "The way things are going, red hair will either be extremely rare or extinct by the end of the century."

Red hair certainly has made the endangered list. But with 4 percent of 6.4 billion people carrying the gene, says University of Rochester Medical Center's David Pearce, it is too large a figure to be wiped out completely in the next 95 years.

"I think someone may want to check their calculator," he says. The red-hair gene "will dilute out and become rare, but there are a variety of other factors that can change hair color that are not really understood well right now."

The gene responsible for red hair was only discovered in the late 1990s. People have a good chance of being born with red hair if they have a mutation of that gene.

Red hair is found in all ethnic backgrounds but is most commonly associated with people of Celtic descent....

Answer 2

Probably because the Recessive Gene for red hair is gradually being diluted out of the population. -An interesting possibility, when you think about it, because as world populations become more mobile & mixed into others, more & MORE physical attributes may die out...& we'll all look more & more alike... ... Oh My GOD!!!- That means we might ALL one day end up looking like Britney Spears! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........ :)

Answer 3

because red hair is a reccessive gene. if they reproduce with a more dominant gene like brunettes the dominant gene will show. and since redhair makes up only 4 percent of the population it is harder to find a compatible mate that is red headed.

Answer 4

Um, lets see....

Because the red hair gene is recessive
Because with so much interracial reproduction it is lowering the chances of our gene showing up
Because there are fewer of us every year.....

And a little known fact...we are resistant to anaestetics

Answer 5

They are? I didn't know that!
Where I come from there seem to be more redheads around because some people with normally black hair are dyeing them red!!! They look ridiculous.

Answer 6

holy ****,i'm endangered??!!