Says Grant Professor of Dermatology Jonathan Rees: "Variation in hair and skin colour is one of the most polymorphic* human traits. Although differences in hair and eye colour are often quoted as practical examples of genetics for the non-expert, in reality the experts understand them very little." Identification several years ago of the gene for red hair in humans uncovered surprises. "We found that mutations of the gene are very common in North Western Europe and that there are a large number of different mutations. This means that the gene may be of great interest in terms of studies of human evolution and migration," says Professor Rees. "Although the genetics has progressed at a great speed, we are still limited in our ability to describe the observable characteristics of each 'type': for instance, how do we rationally think about classifying the different sorts of red haired people - strawberry blondes, auburn, ginger, carrot and so on? In the same way, the clinical measures we have for measuring differences in the ability of people to tan are very poor."
Explaining his interest in the genetics of red hair and pale skin, he says: "The striking variation in hair colour, especially red, raises all sorts of questions about whether natural selection is operating on various skin types, and why are there any advantages in being red? The second reason for interest is that people with red hair tend to have an associated pale skin that tans poorly in response to ultra violet radiation. This puts these individuals at increased risk of skin cancer, both melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Overall, skin cancer is the commonest cancer in the United Kingdom, although it is frequently ignored as it isn't recorded on most NHS or government figures. In addition, melanoma, which is less common, kills about twenty per cent of the people who will suffer from it. Understanding why some people are more predisposed to these cancers is therefore important."
Professor Rees's research team, originally in Newcastle and now in Edinburgh, has collaborated during the past five years with Dr Ian Jackson of the MRC Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh over research into the genetics of red hair and pale skin. The award of the CERIES** prize to Professor Rees and support from the Wellcome Trust has allowed extension of the study, which will develop non-invasive methods of measuring hair colour and skin response to repeated exposure for ultra violet radiation. "We hope that we will be able to classify individuals with considerably more finesse than has been available so far, which in turn will allow us to understand the genetic determinants of sun sensitivity to a greater degree," he says.
Those interested in taking part in the study, especially people with red or blonde hair, should call
Karen Muir
Tel: 0131 536 2041
Email jonathan.rees@ed.ac.uk
Notes:
* Polymorphism: the presence in a population of two or more alternative forms of a particular gene.
**CERIES, the Centre de Recherches et d'Investigations Epidermiques et Sensorielles (Epidermal and Sensory Research and Investigation Centre) is an autonomous research centre based in Paris and funded by CHANEL. It is focused on performing scientific investigations on the biology and physiology of healthy skin.
For further information,
please contact:
Professor Jonathan Rees
Department of Dermatology
Tel: 0131 536 2041
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