Disappearing blonde gene
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Disappearing blonde gene was a hoax that started circulating in the media in 2002. According to this hoax, the WHO (or other experts) published a report that the gene responsible for blond hair is about to be extinct. WHO has issued a formal statement that it knows of no such report.
The report allegedly claimed that miscegenation will lead to a reduced proportion of individuals in whom the blonde trait is expressed (i.e. who inherit the gene from both parents), and therefore the number of blondes. The claim is based on a misunderstanding of "recessive genes". Unless the gene is associated with a disadvantage to survival or reproduction, it will continue to be passed on to future generations. Although racial intermixing may lead to a reduced proportion of individuals in whom the blonde trait is expressed (i.e. who inherit the gene from both parents), it does not in itself reduce the prevalence of the gene.
[edit] In the media
A number of news agencies, such as Canadian Press and BBC News took the bait. In 2002 the BBC News (and others) reported[1] that unnamed German scientists had concluded that the natural distribution of fair hair would cease within the span of 200 years due to the genes associated with fair hair being recessive; only a select number of people from Finland will have naturally blond hair. The article stated that there is a reportedly low number of people carrying the recessive blond genes, especially in nations of mixed heritage (examples: USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia). The dominant genes (brown hair, black hair, brown eyes) 'overthrow' the recessive genes or metaphorically, endanger them. Subsequently the study was attributed to the World Health Organization.
In October 2002 the New York Times reported that the World Health Organization had no knowledge of this study.[2]. The WHO has since officially confirmed that the story is a fake. [3]
Causing some stir in media and blogs, including angry feminist protests and numerous rebuttals from scientists, the hoax naturally died out, only to resurface in 2006 in Sunday Times [4] and La Repubblica: "According to the WHO study, the last natural blond is likely to be born in Finland during 2202." It once again traveled quickly across the World Wide Web [5]. The hoax even appeared on the "Threat-Down" segment of The Colbert Report on March 6, 2006, where Stephen Colbert suggested a selective breeding program to save blondes.
[edit] References
- ^ "Blondes 'to die out in 200 years'", from the BBC, September 27, 2002.
- ^ "Hair-raising story about blonds cut short", from The Age, October 3, 2002
- ^ WHO clarification
- ^ Cavegirls were first blondes to have fun. The online version was corrected later.
- ^ "Natural blondes are likely to be extinct within 200 years" from Bit of News
