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Substantial % of Blonde Hair in Melanesia not from Europe

Researchers from Stanford School of Medicine assert that 1 in 4 Solomon Islanders carry a gene for blonde hair that is not from Europe. Per the article:

About 5–10% of people from Melanesia, a group of islands northeast of Australia, have naturally blonde hair — the highest prevalence outside Europe. Yet people from the region have the darkest skin pigmentation outside Africa. Now, a study of people from the Solomon Islands in Melanesia shows that they evolved the striking blonde trait independently of people in Europe. This refutes the possibility that blonde hair was introduced by colonial Europeans, says Carlos Bustamante, a geneticist at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California, and a senior co-author on the study, which is published today in Science¹. "Blonde hair has clearly evolved twice," he says.

http://www.nature.com/news/blonde-hair-evolved-more-than-once-1.10587

Tags: Blondes, Jubinsky, Melanesia

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on May 3, 2012 at 6:45pm

So, they make their own hair dye locally?

Permalink Reply by Sarah Walton on May 3, 2012 at 7:05pm

Neat! I've always been curious about my own blonde hair. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Paula T. on May 3, 2012 at 7:07pm

Interesting article! I love the picture they included...what a cute curly top :)

It makes me wonder how religious/creationist types would try to explain this, but then again, they may not have the knowledge needed to understand it. If they are going to deny evolution, they will chalk this up to something in 'gawd's plan'.

Permalink Reply by Sarah Walton on May 3, 2012 at 7:13pm

Seriously. That kid has a PhD in Cuteology.

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on May 4, 2012 at 5:37am