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The chemistry of redheads (video)

Reports and Proceedings

American Chemical Society

The Chemistry of Redheads

image: The thing that sets redheads apart from the crowd is pigmentation. Most humans produce the brown-black eumelanin while redheads have a genetic variant making more reddish pheomelanin. How red hair is produced by redheads' cells might also explain why they have different sensation to pain. Watch the latest Reactions video here: https://youtu.be/Ylt_p2zzONw. view more 

Credit: The American Chemical Society

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2017 -- St. Patrick's Day evokes thoughts of all things often associated with the Irish -- including red hair. Chemically speaking, what sets redheads apart from the crowd is pigmentation -- specifically melanins. Most humans produce the brown-black eumelanin that results in varying shades of skin color and hair from blonde to black. Redheads have a genetic variant that causes cells to produce instead reddish pheomelanin, resulting in pale skin and fiery locks. How red hair is produced by redheads' cells might also explain why they have different sensitivity to pain.Watch the latest Reactions video here: https://youtu.be/Ylt_p2zzONw.

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