People with red hair can live very long if they learn the truth about their genes ...
Mankind is literally possessed by the idea of eternal youth, but until now it has not even been possible to find an explanation for why at one and the same age all people look different. Most often, youthful appearance and excellent health in the 50-60 years are explained by high-quality sleep and healthy nutrition, but this is not true. There are many examples that people with harmful habits and a heavy working schedule become long-livers. So what is the secret of youth then? Scientists have found the answer to this question: it is in the so-called "red" gene.
What is a "red" gene?
Progress in understanding why some people manage to look the entire way even in old age, scientists have achieved by studying human DNA. In the genetic code of each person, the MC1R gene is prescribed, which is responsible for protecting the body from ultraviolet radiation. This is the radiation that provokes the aging of the skin: the appearance of wrinkles, dryness and pigmentation spots. MC1R minimizes its harm to the epidermis, so external skin changes appear in humans closer to 50, and not to 10 years. The surprising discovery of this gene belongs to scientists at the University of Erasmus in the Netherlands.
As part of their study, doctors took DNA tests in 2,693 people and also conducted a dermatological examination of their skin to find out if they looked younger than their real age. In the chain of genes of those whose skin did not want to obey the laws of natural aging, and MC1R was found. The same gene is responsible for the red hair color - that's why it was called the "red" gene.
How does youth depend on the color-type of appearance?
Does this mean that red-haired people with freckles always look better than their peers? Definitely, yes. The condition of their skin for at least two years "lags" in aging from dark-haired and blondes. When it turned out, the representatives of the University decided to continue the research to find out what will be the aging of people with other hair color and skin without freckles.
Professor Ian Jackson was able to scientifically prove that people with pale pigmentation and light hair color will look better in old age than dark-skinned brunettes. They should also have blue, gray or green eyes to fully match the "pale" color. This genetic research scientists called "an experiment of apparent age."
Ian says:
"The next step is the creation of something that would activate this gene for everyone, but so far such knowledge is not available to us."
The researchers really can not yet understand the principle of the MC1R gene's action and "isolate" it from the chain of similar genes. But they are sure that very soon they will be able to create a drug, after which everyone will look young and beautiful.