Only 1% of the world's population has red hair. It is caused by a recessive variation in the MCR1 gene that codes for hair color. In 1–2 sentences, explain how this variation could have formed in ancestral DNA, and how it has led to red hair through viable errors. (2 points)

Answer 1

The recessive variation in the MCR1 gene likely arose from a genetic mutation in ancestral populations, possibly due to environmental adaptation or random genetic drift. This mutation can lead to red hair when an individual inherits two copies of the recessive allele, which may have provided an advantage in certain climates, such as increased vitamin D synthesis in low UV light.