The Mystery Behind Red Hair

What pigment is found in redheads?

a) Keratin

b) Melanin

c) Pheomelanin

d) Cortex, the pigment found in redheads is pheomelanin

Answer:

The correct pigment found in redheads is pheomelanin.

Red hair is a rare and unique trait that is caused by a variation in a gene called MC1R. This gene is responsible for producing a pigment called pheomelanin, which is a reddish-yellow pigment found in red hair. Unlike the more common pigment melanin, which produces brown and black hair colors, pheomelanin gives red hair its distinctive hue.

Pheomelanin is also responsible for the freckles and lighter skin tone often seen in people with red hair. The amount of pheomelanin in the skin determines how easily someone with red hair will burn in the sun, making them more susceptible to sunburns and skin damage from UV rays.

While red hair is often associated with fair skin and freckles, it can actually occur in people of various skin tones. However, red hair is still a relatively rare trait, with only around 2% of the world's population having red hair.