Whether your child will have red hair depends on the genetics inherited from both parents. Here's a breakdown based on the reference information:
Understanding the Genetics of Red Hair
Red hair is a recessive trait, meaning a child needs to inherit two copies of the red hair gene (one from each parent) to actually have red hair. The gene involved is called MC1R.
Scenario 1: One Parent with Red Hair, One Carrier
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If one parent has red hair and the other parent is a carrier of the red hair gene (but does not have red hair), there's a 50% chance the child will have red hair.
This is because the parent with red hair will always pass on one copy of the red hair gene, and the other parent has a 50% chance of passing on their copy of the red hair gene.
Scenario 2: Both Parents are Carriers
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If both parents are carriers of the recessive red hair gene (but neither has red hair), there's a 25% chance that their child will inherit red hair.
This occurs because each parent has a 50% chance of passing on a copy of the red hair gene. For the child to have red hair, both parents need to pass on the red hair gene.
Chances of Red Hair: Summary
| Parent 1 | Parent 2 | Chance of Red Hair Child |
|---|---|---|
| Red hair | Red hair | 100% |
| Red hair | Carrier | 50% |
| Red hair | No red gene | 0% (child will be a carrier) |
| Carrier | Carrier | 25% |
| Carrier | No red gene | 0% (child will be a carrier) |
| No red gene | No red gene | 0% |
Note: A 'carrier' has one copy of the red hair gene, but does not have red hair
Additional Considerations
- It is possible to be a carrier without knowing. A DNA test can reveal if you carry a recessive gene for red hair.
- If you are a carrier and your partner also has red hair gene, it doesn't guarantee a red haired child. It only increases the probability as shown above.
