Yes, we can all describe what height of partner we prefer, or a
preference of hair colour... but are those the things that really count?
By comparing the hair colour of the group with their genetic information, stored at several million locations across the human genome, the team identified 124 genes involved in the
development of hair colour, of which more than 100 were not previously known to influence pigmentation.
Joint lead author Professor Manfred Kayser from Erasmus MC said: «Besides substantially increasing our understanding of human pigmentation genetics in general, finding these new hair colour genes is also important for further increasing the
accuracy of hair colour prediction from DNA traces in future forensic applications, which can help to find unknown perpetrators of crime.»
Although previous studies have found that a large
percentage of hair colour variation is explained by heritable factors, previous genetic studies only identified a dozen or so hair colour genes.
Co-author Dr. David Hinds from 23andMe said: «While the
genetics of hair colour is an interesting problem in itself, we hope that better understanding of the biology of melanin pigmentation will be applicable to studies of diseases that interact with pigmentation, such as skin cancer or vitiligo.»
The study analysed genetic data from almost 300, 000 people of European descent with black, blonde, dark brown, light brown or Read more about Combing our DNA for the
roots of hair colour - Scimex
Research has also shown that this amino acid can help to shield the hair from the damaging
effects of hair colouring and bleaching2.
The story centers around heroin Toki and her meaner alter ego Towa (hence the title), each distinguished by their unique
brand of hair colour.
The inner self, contained within the bedroom and bathroom, becomes a space of existential frustration where a
change of hair colour, from blonde to black, releases an intangibility of «the different fictions of me.»