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Biology/what hair colour will my baby have

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Question
I have very blonde hair ( I'm 30 it's never darkened)
my husband has light brown hair
both our parents had brown hair but had siblings with red hair. thanks

Answer
Dear Jane,

Hair color is controlled by several different genes.  But if you have very pale hair and your husband has light brown hair (perhaps he was blonde as a child?), then it's likely your child will have hair no darker than your husband's, but s/he may also have blonde hair, depending on what genes your husband has passed on to the child.

If your husband was blonde as a child, then your baby may also have very blonde hair as a child, but it may darken with age, as is usually the case.

Hope this helps.

Dana

Biology

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Dana Krempels, Ph.D.

Expertise

I can answer biology-related questions in the areas of evolution, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology. But I don't answer homework questions or provide ideas for your science fair projects. So students please do your learning the right way by reading your text assignments and studying!

Experience

At the University of Miami, I teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ecology, and a variety of seminars (e.g., the Biology and Evolution of Human Gender Roles).

Education/Credentials
I have a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in English from the University of Southern California (1980). I earned my Ph.D. in Biology in the area of evolutionary biology/visual physiology from the University of Miami in 1989.

Past/Present Clients
I am currently an "expert" in both the "Rabbits" and "Wild Animals" categories.

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