This week Reactions is exploring the science behind redheads. That’s right–there’s a lot of science that goes on with our ginger friend’s locks.

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Writer/Producer: Kirk Zamieroski

Executive Producer:
Adam Dylewski

Scientific consultants:
Ian J. Jackson, Ph.D.
William P. Pavan, Ph.D.
Rick A. Sturm, Ph.D.
Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D.
Kyle Nackers

Sources:
melanin structures
http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/17/5/746/htm

MC1R Gene Melanocytes – https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MC1R

The Effects of Red Hair in Surgury – http://www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/186171?path=/bmj/341/7786/Surgery.full.pdf

Redheads and pain – http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1942394

Chemistry of Hair color – https://sites.duke.edu/thepepproject/module-2-drug-testing-a-hair-brained-idea/content-background-the-chemistry-of-hair-and-hair-color/

Melanin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671032/

Types of melanin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2071942

Pheomelanin – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2071942

MC1R Variants – http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.23396/full

Skin pigmentation and evolution – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267121/

MC1R Mutations – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1180688/

Chemistry of Hair http://www.texascollaborative.org/hildasustaita/modulefiles/topic3.htm

Redhead heat sensitivity – http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=1942394

MC1R and Nociception – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1692342/

Redhead project – https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mace-lab/genetic-ancestry/guff_pages/guff_documents/Red-Head_Project.pdf

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Reactions is produced by the American Chemical Society.