Red-headed folk of Ireland, please don’t shoot the messenger; it’s the scientists that say your race is in trouble. Very big trouble indeed.
In rather distressing news from our neighbours in Scotland, it has emerged that scientists believe that climate change could lead to the end of the red hair gene, which in turn, would lead to a gradual yet drastic reduction in the number of ginger people and eventually *insert impending doom sound effect here* the extinction of the entire ginger race.
Previous research, also from Scotland, has suggested that the climate (i.e. lack of sun) in these parts is the reason behind the large percentage of ginger people in Ireland and the UK. Approximately ten per cent of Irish people have red hair, second only to Scotland in terms of the number of ginger people (13 per cent), so they might be onto something there.
According Scottish scientists, rising temperatures might cause a regression of the red hair gene, meaning that, in time, red-haired folk will become an endangered species.
Dr Alistair Moffat, managing director ScotlandsDNA, is
quoted in The Independent as saying: "We think red hair in Scotland, Ireland and in the North of England is adaption to the climate.
"I think the reason for light skin and red hair is that we do not get enough sun and we have to get all the Vitamin D we can.
"If the climate is changing and it is to become more cloudy or less cloudy then this will affect the gene.
"If it was to get less cloudy and there was more sun, then yes, there would be fewer people carrying the gene.”
Another unnamed scientist, meanwhile, told ScotlandNow: "I think the regressive gene is slowly dying out.
"Climate change could see a decline in the number of people with red hair in Scotland.
"It would take many hundreds of years for this to happen.
"Red hair and blue eyes are not adapted to a warm climate.
"It is just a theory but the recessive gene may likely be lost. The recessive gene could be in danger."
Ginger people in Ireland and elsewhere can rest easy for the time being because the decline in number and eventual extinction of ginger people isn’t going to happen for a while yet if at all, but if it does, we sure will miss
folks like these when they’re gone.
