Will Red Headed People Be Extinct By The Year 2060?

According to Dr. Allistair Moffat, yes, because of the climates, red hair is an adaptation, not a gene.

Independent.co.uk reports that Dr Alistair Moffat, managing director of Galashiels-based ScotlandsDNA, once said: that red hair started because they don't get enough sun in Scotland and Ireland. So, because of changing climates with global warming, red-headed people will cease to exist.

In other words, the gene will not give people red hair, it will go away because we are getting more sun and the sun is getting hotter with less cloud cover. I don't know if I buy that. Ripley's is quick to point out that Dr. Moffat holds a degree in Philosophy, not genetics.

Ripley's Reports that in order to have red hair you have to have a mutation in the MC1R, which is found in Scotland and Ireland, but has to be carried by the parents. Like Prince Harry and Prince William. Neither of their parents has red hair, yet, Prince Harry has red hair.

The whole rumor started with the Oxford Hair Foundation who first said in 2005, that red hair would not be around anymore and gave the year of 2060. They were also part of Proctor and Gamble, makers of red hair dye.

Even National Geographic got into the act. In an article posted by the digitaljournal.com, saying it was going to happen and they quoted the first statement made by the Oxford Hair Foundation and Dr. Moffat.

I know the rumor is floating around the internet again like it has thousands of times. It is not true. Red Hair always comes from the gene, not because there is more or less sun.