Redheads are rumored feel more pain and need more painkillers than their blonde and brown-haired cousins. Published research suggests the genes behind hair color may play a role, but the science...
========== I’ve heard redheads feel more pain.
Is that right, Julia?Ouch!It is actually true that there is a link between
gingerness and pain.Scientists have known this for more than a
decade. But the exact nature of the relationship-- and how it works -- is a bit murky.Here’s what we do know.What causes redheads to be the
beautiful unicorns that they are?OK, I may biased there.When it comes to hair color, you have a specific
gene to thank: the melanocortin-1 Receptor gene-- or MC1R -- which is located near the
tip of our 16th chromosome.MC1R triggers pigment production in
skin, eyes and hair.The human body produces two pigments:
‘eumelanin’ that has a brown-black toneand pheomelanin, which is red and yellow.In general, the more eumelanin,
the darker your skin and ...
