Ginger Hair

[Rosss]

I have the blessing of having ginger hair. If my partner also has Ginger hair, what are the chances of our children being blessed with auburn and titian locks?

[TheMinxGirl]

Considering all shades of red/ginger/auburn together, most people with red hair have DNA sequence mutations in a pigmentation gene, the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). We each have two copies of every gene (one from each parent), and red-haired people usually have mutations in both copies of the MC1R gene, although the exact mutation may be different between each copy and between people. However, it is also possible to have red hair with only one mutated copy, in which case the individual is more likely to have strawberry blonde or auburn hair, rather than true 'red'. It is also possible to have mutations without red hair and to have red hair without MC1R mutations, indicating that other genes are involved. If both you and your partner have ginger hair you could each have two mutated copies of MC1R and your children, who would also have two mutated copies, would be likely to have distinctly red hair (ginger ' titian). However, your ginger hair may be caused by a different gene than your partners' ginger hair. In this case you might expect to have children with auburn, strawberry blonde or non-red hair. There is no real answer currently available, and questions such as these are being investigated by scientists around the world.

[Nel1]

And looking towards a future time,and in the appropriate locallity, your children may also be blessed with Ginger Rogers.