• Question: What is the point of different colored hair or no hair at all?

    Asked by #DefinitelyBrian to Angela, Claire, Ian, Robert, Sarah on 13 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by MattNelson.
    • Photo: Angela Stokes

      Angela Stokes answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      Our hair colour is determined by our genes and the presence of two types of melanin called eumelanin and phenomelanin. if more eumelanin is present hair will be darker and conversely, if less eumelanin is present hair will be lighter. The amount of melanin can change over a lifespan and therefore hair colour can change.

      There is no advantage of having any particular hair colour.

      Baldness is also controlled by a gene and is usually seen in older males, however there are some diseases that can cause hair loss. There is no particular advantage to being bald – except perhaps you don’t have to wash your hair!

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