Expert: Walter Hintz - 4/3/2007

Question
I am a female with reddish brown hair with green eyes and freckles. I am of mixed race half white and half black. I have had five children only one has received reddish hair like mine. Does this mean that my red hair is a recessive gene thing? I appreciate you answering this question.


Answer
 Hi Denise
Yes! Red hair is recessive but all pigments involve multiple genes and not a single pair. And the father of the children must be carrying genes for red.  This is the reason we get different shades.  The same is true for skin color when dark pigments dominate over light.  I assume your skin appears between the parents as far as color is concerned