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 responsible for red hair likely originated through a mutation in the ancestral DNA that altered the function of the protein produced by this gene, impacting the production of eumelanin and pheomelanin. Over time, this mutation could have become more prevalent through genetic drift or specific environmental adaptations, such as in regions with less sunlight, leading to the expression of red hair in those with two copies of the mutated allele.