Do Melanesian people have blonde hair?

Melanesian Blonde hair Although the indigenous Melanesian population of the islands possess the darkest skin outside of Africa, between 5 and 10\% have bright blond hair.

Why do some Pacific islanders have blonde hair?

The findings, published in Science, reveal that a single mutation in the TYRP1 gene, which is involved in the hair and skin pigmentation process in humans, distinguished those with blonde hair. The mutation is recessive and so two copies are needed for a person to have blonde hair.

Are Melanesians descendants of Africa?

The results showed that both the Aborigines and Melanesians share the genetic features that have been linked to the exodus of modern humans from Africa 50,000 years ago. Until now, one of the main reasons for doubting the “Out Of Africa” theory was the existence of inconsistent evidence in Australia.

What causes hair to blonde?

Genetic History of Blondes Natural blonde hair, is caused by a lack of a pigment called eumelanin. This pigment deficiency is what gives blondes their hair color. The general explanation as to how blondes came into being, is related the need for Vitamin D and lower levels of sunlight in some regions.

What races have naturally blonde hair?

Naturally-occurring blond hair is primarily found in people living in or descended from people who lived in the northern half of Europe, and may have evolved alongside the development of light skin that enables more efficient synthesis of vitamin D, due to northern Europe’s lower levels of sunlight.

What is Melanesian DNA?

Melanesians carry an additional 383,000 base pairs of DNA that appear to have originated in Denisovans. It was introduced into the genome of the ancestral Melanesian population some 60,000 to 170,000 years ago. The investigators estimate that this variant is now present in 79\% of a diverse group of Melanesians.

Are Melanesians Neanderthals?

Compared with other world groups, the DNA of Melanesian populations carries some of the largest percentage of ancestry from now-extinct Neanderthals and Denisovans.

What nationality is Melanesian?

The First Settlers. The Melanesia region includes Papua New Guinea, Australia and the island chains to the east including Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. The word “Melanesian” is more of a geographical name than a description of an ethnic group, so its meaning in this context is somewhat vague.