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Redheads Wave Goodbye

Our flame-haired friends are bound for extinction: report

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:22 PM CDT

(Newser) – Across the globe, true redheads are declining in number and may soon be gone altogether. More human intermingling has lessened redhead coupling, the Daily Mail reports, and carrot-tops may be no more as soon as 2060. Some scientists make less dire predictions, according to National Geographic, and say the ginger gene won’t fall out of the pool quite that quickly.

The 2% of the world’s population that currently has red hair inherited a gene that once helped humans make vitamin D from sunlight. If you want to boost the odds of landing your very own Nicole Kidman or Conan O'Brien substitute, head to Scotland—13% of the population has red hair, and three times that many carry the gene.

Actress Julianne Moore, Academy Award nominee and now member of an endangered species. (Associated Press)

According to National Geographic, the gene's initial benefits included absorbing more vitamin D from the sun. However, today's redheads are more prone to skin cancer and have higher sensitivity to heat... (Shutterstock.com)

Cast member Nicole Kidman attends the Los Angeles Premiere of "Cold Mountain" at the Mann National Theatre in Westwood, California, on Sunday, December 7, 2003. (KRT Photos)

61st Venice Film Festival: Nicole Kidman (Getty Images)

The Australian Premiere of Cold Mountain (Getty Images)

Red hair first occurred in northern Europe as a mutation. Now scientists speculate that redheads could be extinct in 100 years. (Shutterstock.com)

It only takes one parent to pass along the redhead gene, but two redheaded parents create a much stronger probability. (Index Open)

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Redheads Wave Goodbye

Our flame-haired friends are bound for extinction: report

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FDA: No proof kits are safe, effective

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