MadSci Network: Genetics |
I have blonde hair (not platinum, not dirty blonde, just blonde). My husband has flaming red hair. He has blonde, brown and red hair on his side of the family. I have only blonde and brown on my side of the family. I've read that the prevalence of blondes on both sides makes the red more likely to appear in our children. But I've also read that I have to have a recessive gene for red hair in order for our children to exhibit the trait. I also read that the genetics of red hair are more complex than simple dominant/ recessive. I don't think I have a recessive trait for red hair. Both of my parents are from small farming villages in Poland, in areas that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. From what I understand, my descendants on both sides were farmers in a very limited geographic area for a long, long time (so no possibility of Irish/ Scottish genes!). My great- grandparents, grandparents, parents, my 11 aunts and uncles, and 25 cousins are all either brunette or blonde, without even a tint of red. If I have no gene for red hair, is there any chance that our children will have red hair, or perhaps strawberry blonde or auburn? Thanks!
Re: Can I have a redheaded child?
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Genetics.