There are many myths about red-haired people. However, science has also proven that some special properties are indeed associated with the red hair gene, writes Illustrerad Vetenskap. They are associated with the ability to tolerate pain, cold, and intelligence, scientists say.
Red-haired men and women are temperamental, sensitive and do not tolerate pain. There are many myths about redheads, but there is also scientific evidence that certain properties are associated with the gene for red hair in humans.
Julianne Moore and Mick Hucknall and David Caruso and Gillian Anderson should all send a thank you letter to a little gene called MC1R.
It was this gene that provided the actors with red curls that help them shine on stage and on movie screens.
But perhaps MC1R affects more than just the color of the hair. This is evidenced by a number of studies on the characteristics of red-haired people.
Redheads tolerate spicy foods better
It is said that red-haired people tolerate pain worse than others, and that they (probably for the same reason) often require a large dose of anesthesia.
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But back in 2012, a study by the Danish University of Aalborg showed that redheads respond more strongly to only certain types of pain, for example, toothache or associated with extreme cold.
Or maybe redheads can handle pain even better?
The MC1R gene responsible for red hair has several functions in the body, including determining how the brain responds to pain. Several experiments have shown that red-haired people are more sensitive to pain associated with touching something cold, but less responsive to hot burns.
In addition, redheads are more difficult to put into anesthesia and require more pain relievers.
As for injections, pressure and scalding spicy food, here redheads, on the contrary, are more stable than other people.
Perhaps redheads are smarter than the rest
According to Danish scientists, the MC1R gene is also involved in central brain functions along with the MC2R, MC3R and MC4R subgroups.
It is possible that this gene is even associated with intelligence. In one British-American study, researchers concluded that red-haired people are four times more likely to become CEOs than other citizens in the same population.
There are only two percent of redheads on the planet
There are very few red-haired people in the world. According to scientists, only 2% of all people on earth have red curls.
Carsten Nymann