New research: Redheads have existed for 10 million years

Researchers have discovered that the pheomelanin pigment, which produces the red color in amphibians, dates back 10 million years.

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New research: Redheads have existed for 10 million years

New research reveals that the red color has existed in animals for 10 million years. In humans, it is considered one of the rarest natural hair colors. Less than 2 percent of the world's population has natural red hair. While this is a result of the mutated MC1R gene, it was previously unknown how many years ago its origins dated back.

Research conducted has revealed red color pigment molecules in frogs. This has mobilized scientists. According to the findings, animals with red coloring have existed for 10 million years.

According to a study by researchers at University College Cork, the pheomelanin pigment that produces the red color in amphibians dates back 10 million years. The research article published in Nature contains significant highlights.

The research was conducted by Dr. Tiffany Slater and Professor Maria McNamara and their team from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork.

Dr. Slater stated the following regarding the findings;

"This finding is very exciting because it gives paleontologists a greater opportunity to detect different melanin pigments in many more fossils. This will paint a more accurate picture of ancient animal colors and will answer important questions about the evolution of colors in animals. Scientists still do not know how or why pheomelanin, which is toxic to animals, evolved, but the fossil record may solve this mystery."

Scientists say these new findings could help better understand the original colors of extinct organisms.

News Source: 12punto