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1st Trimester
Genetics math: What are the chances we'll have a redhead?
Another redhead, that is. 
I'm blonde, DH was very blonde as a kid, dark blonde now. He has 2 blonde parents, but a redheaded uncle and grandfather. I have 2 brunette parents (although my mom was blonde as a child?) and on my dad's side, 2 redheaded uncles, a redheaded grandfather, and a redheaded cousin.
I know its a recessive gene, so if it's on both sides it will come out in your child, but can you figure out the odds?
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Re: Genetics math: What are the chances we'll have a redhead?
:::Just lurking:::
A friend of mine had 1 great uncle with Red hair, he's got red hair, his younger sister has brown hair, and his younger brother is a blonde. So it's really up in the air...
ok I haven't really considered genetics since high school bio.. but.. I'd say if you already have a red-headed child.. you and DH must both have the recessive gene.. so i would say 25%
but don't quote me on it!
Sorry, I shouldn't be posting here, but the genetics thing really got me interested.
Unfortunately, hair color isn't something you can Punnett square your way into predicting. Hair genes are carried on more than one allele, and it's next to impossible to predict which allele will get expressed. Eye color on the other hand, predict away!
My mom is a redhead and my dad is a brunette. They had 3 girls, 2 are redheads (mine has red highlights, but is mostly brown). I think the odds were against that happening.
My point is, you can try to figure out the odds, but I think it is mostly just luck of the draw. Nothing is certain, and since you both have the gene, you could very likely wind up with another redhead.
good info! thanks!
First of all, anyone is allowed to post here. 2nd tri, 3rd tri, new mommies and TTC'ers as well as non.
Regarding your mom having blonde hair as a child, this is very common in my family. My dad, brother, niece and nephew had blonde hair until they were 5. My nephew will be 5 in May and his is sandy blonde now. My DH had blonde hair until he was 15 and now its dark brown. My hair is also dark brown and was black when I was born. See my DD, she's a blondie! She will either be blonde until 5 or 15-ish we are thinking. So she will end up being a brunette with blue eyes.
My brown haired inlaws had three boys, one brunette, one blonde (DH, now brown) and one red head (now brown). My red headed BIL has 3 kids: one brunette, one red, one reddish brown. My red-headed nephew looked like your DS at that age. His hair has since gotten browner, but is still defnitely red.
Steal my kids picture or pretend they are yours, I will find where you live and ship all of their dirty diapers to your doorstep. Promise.
Yep this is right. If I can shake the cobwebs out of that part of my brain!
She's right on this! but if anyone wants to play with a punnett square for other traits, here is an online one: Punnett Square Calculator :]
Signed,
The Genetics Student with red hair and black haired parents. :]
I should show my partner. He seems to think that because he's very dark (indian) and I'm very fair (european decent) that we will give birth to a "striped" baby so it "looks like both of us." Ummm, no! I should send him to the site!
From what I understand, the redhead thing doesn't necessarily go on odds, since it can randomly show up from a combination of the parents genes (no previous red head genes required...)
Thats what I've heard. my parents both have very dark brown hair as does my sister and most my relatives. at family reunions, I'd been asked multiple times "who I came with" because I didn't have the 'right' italian complexion they assumed I was a tagalong with another relative.
What I dislike is how everyone has to TOUCH my hair because my shade of red is "unusual." the day I went to college (out of state), I bought hair dye because I wanted a break from having my hair touched. Luckily it's darkened the past few years once I let my natural color back.