Scientists search for the cause of the sharp rise in the number of redheads in Europe

The number of red-haired Europeans is growing — and scientists cannot yet fully explain why this is happening.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to the Daily Mail, this conclusion was reached by researchers from Harvard University.

According to the results of a large-scale study, people with red hair, who for centuries were often ridiculed, today find themselves in a surprisingly advantageous position from an evolutionary standpoint. The authors of the study state that human evolution has not stopped — moreover, it is progressing far more rapidly than previously believed.

Genetic analysis has revealed a striking trend: over the past 10,000 years, the gene responsible for red hair color has become significantly more common among Europeans. At the same time, scientists have recorded an increase in the prevalence of a whole range of other traits — lighter skin, reduced tendency toward male pattern baldness, faster movement speed, and even enhanced cognitive abilities.

Researchers suggest that red hair may have given its carriers certain advantages thousands of years ago. However, it is also possible that this trait became established in the population not on its own, but in conjunction with other, more significant genetic characteristics.

Among the additional traits that spread alongside red hair, scientists cite a predisposition to celiac disease, immunity to HIV, resistance to leprosy, a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis, and a lower body fat percentage.