They disappear! Blond
Scientists are worried about the future of blondes
Not everyone knows that blond hair is the result of a gene mutation.
It helped primitive white women to survive – even then, men paid more attention to such girls, provided them with food and a cave.
And even now, something on a subconscious level makes women bleach
– To be prettier, more successful, more attractive. I wonder what exactly affects the color of a person’s hair?
How many natural blondes are there on our planet?
After all, scientists predict that by the year 2200, the gene responsible for blond hair will disappear, and with it – blondes.
About this and other things on the eve of the World Day of Blondes, which is celebrated on May 31, we ask Zhanna Prykhodko, a dermatologist of the highest category, and Andrii Semikhodskyi, an expert in the field of DNA research, director of a medical company.
What does hair color depend on?
Zh. Prykhodko: this is all the result of the selection and work of genes. Due to a combination of genes, blonds have no or very little melanin pigment. Hair color depends on it. Instead, blondes are distinguished by an increased number of hair follicles – there can be up to 150,000 hairs on a “light” head (and, for example, redheads – only 80,000).
But there are very few real natural blondes. Over the past 50 years, their number has decreased from 49 to 14 percent of the total number of inhabitants of the planet. But even among light-haired, there are only 25 percent of blonds. There are also variations: for example, flaxen hair (white with a yellow tint) or platinum (white with a gray tint). In addition, people with golden hair, the color of corn, even light blond are considered blondes.
- Semikhodsky: The enzymes eumelanin and pheomelanin are very important. If the first dominates, the hair is dark, and if the second – reddish. But blonds have very little melanin, and no pheomelanin at all. At age 3, the activity of pigment-producing cells decreases, and hair turns gray.
There are countries where blondes make up 80-90 percent of the population – for example, Scandinavian countries. But after 200 years, their number will decrease catastrophically.
And can a couple find out with the help of DNA research whether their children will be blond?
- Semikhodskyi: If both parents are blond, the child will most likely inherit this hair color. However, do not be surprised if a dark-haired baby is born. After all, there is a special type of DNA markers that are specific for a certain ethnic group. Their analysis makes it possible to establish the number (in percentage) of ancestors from different geographical regions and historical population groups that a person has. In particular, the markers of the European group (northern, southern, etc.) are being investigated.
The dominance of the northern component is a guarantee that the children will be blond, because it is in the north of Europe that there are the most blonds.
It should also be taken into account that the color of the child’s hair is formed between the ages of 2 and 5, and sometimes even during puberty, when the hair darkens due to the action of the sex hormone testosterone.
There is a hypothesis according to which in 200 years blondes will disappear altogether.
– Why?
Zh. Prykhodko: Light hair is considered a recessive (weak) genetic trait, while dark hair is dominant. Even blondes cannot always have a fair-haired child. In general, recently there has been a tendency towards the predominance of the Negroid race, whose representatives have dark skin and dark hair. Therefore, the “whiteness” gene simply disappears.
A lot depends on a person’s place of residence. After all, there are countries in which blondes make up 80-90 percent of the population – for example, Scandinavian countries. But scientists assure that even there after 200 years their number will decrease catastrophically. The reason for this is that German, Scandinavian, Finnish families prefer to have only one child, so the “white” gene is becoming less and less.
– Is there a connection between hair color and tendencies, traits of a person’s character?
Zh. Prykhodko: In general, fair-haired people are less hardy, instead more sensual and tender. A man, of course, will not need such qualities, but women will only benefit from this – they will become successful in love. 3 points of view of medicine blondes are sensitive to the sun’s rays (can get skin burns even during a short stay in the sun), and are also more prone to malignant transformation of birthmarks.
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