Aleksander
2010-10-14, 12:22
I have been pondering this thought for a few days now, I have not found anything on the subject.
Now, I'm not a geneticist by any means; however, I recently began thinking of why things like hair color and eye color often change to a darker shade. From what I gathered there is not really any decided theory on why this happens.
Now, others have brought up a similar question, in the form of say, taking a Southern European and putting their family in Northern Europe, breeding only amongst their kind for several thousands of years, would they develop lighter features over time?
Now, I wonder that if a child from the time of birth through early developing years were located in a region slightly different than where their ancestors would be a native to (such as a Southern Frenchman in Denmark), but not extremely different (like an Scot in Saudi Arabia), could it affect their genetic programming to produce less or more amounts of melanin in those respective areas?
If not early developing years, then perhaps even while still in the womb of the mother. If she gets certain amounts of sunlight/Vitamin D while pregnant, is it possible that the child's genes would respond the same way as theorized above? Altering their melanin production levels in respective areas in accordance with the Vitamin D levels?
Now, I'm not expecting this to be a correct idea, it's hardly a hypothesis, but I would be interested in some detailed information on why it is or is not plausible, and especially on the mechanics for childhood hair and eye color changing as I have yet to find anything concrete on that subject.
Now, I'm not a geneticist by any means; however, I recently began thinking of why things like hair color and eye color often change to a darker shade. From what I gathered there is not really any decided theory on why this happens.
Now, others have brought up a similar question, in the form of say, taking a Southern European and putting their family in Northern Europe, breeding only amongst their kind for several thousands of years, would they develop lighter features over time?
Now, I wonder that if a child from the time of birth through early developing years were located in a region slightly different than where their ancestors would be a native to (such as a Southern Frenchman in Denmark), but not extremely different (like an Scot in Saudi Arabia), could it affect their genetic programming to produce less or more amounts of melanin in those respective areas?
If not early developing years, then perhaps even while still in the womb of the mother. If she gets certain amounts of sunlight/Vitamin D while pregnant, is it possible that the child's genes would respond the same way as theorized above? Altering their melanin production levels in respective areas in accordance with the Vitamin D levels?
Now, I'm not expecting this to be a correct idea, it's hardly a hypothesis, but I would be interested in some detailed information on why it is or is not plausible, and especially on the mechanics for childhood hair and eye color changing as I have yet to find anything concrete on that subject.