Only 1% of the worlds 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 red hair throug viable errors.

Answer 1

The recessive variation in the MCR1 gene likely originated through a mutation in ancestral DNA, potentially providing a selective advantage in certain environments, such as areas with lower sunlight where lighter skin could facilitate vitamin D synthesis. Over generations, this mutation persisted and spread through a combination of genetic drift and inter-breeding, leading to the occurrence of red hair in subsequent populations, albeit at a low frequency due to its recessive nature.