Yes, the presence of curly hair is determined by your DNA.
Curly or straight hair is encoded within your genes. The specific genes involved influence the shape of the hair follicle and the proteins that make up the hair shaft. The shape of the hair follicle dictates the shape of the hair that grows from it – a round follicle produces straight hair, while an oval follicle produces curly hair.
- Dominant and Recessive Genes: The inheritance of curly hair often follows a dominant/recessive pattern. Generally, the gene for curly hair is considered dominant, and the gene for straight hair is recessive. This means that if you inherit one gene for curly hair and one gene for straight hair, you will likely have curly hair.
- Multiple Genes and Complex Interactions: While simplified explanations often focus on a single gene, hair texture is actually influenced by multiple genes and complex interactions between them. This can result in a spectrum of hair types, from tightly coiled to slightly wavy.
- Example: If one parent contributes a "curly hair" gene and the other a "straight hair" gene, the child will likely express curly hair due to the dominance of the curly hair allele.
In summary, your DNA contains the instructions that determine your hair texture, including whether it is straight, wavy, or curly. This is primarily due to the shape of hair follicles, which are determined by genes.
